Pirates End Padres' 3-Game Win Streak, 3-2
Pittsburgh snapped San Diego's three-game run with a 3-2 win on August 24, but the Padres still hold the third NL Wild Card spot at 71-61 heading into tonight's series opener.
Three straight over Minnesota, then Pittsburgh snaps it
Pirates2-3The stretch opened with a 4-2 loss at the Mets on August 19, then turned around completely: the Padres beat the Twins 6-2, 7-5 and 8-1 from August 21 through August 23 to run their win streak to three. Pittsburgh ended it on August 24, beating San Diego 3-2 to leave the club 3-2 over its last five games and 71-61 on the season.
Robbie Ray started that finale and went 5.1 innings, allowing 5 hits and 2 earned runs with 2 walks and 5 strikeouts. It was a line good enough to win most nights, but the Padres managed only two runs against Pittsburgh.
Padres hold the third and final wild-card spot
| NL Wild Card | W | L | Pct | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Cubs | 76 | 56 | .576 | +5.0 |
 Phillies | 73 | 59 | .553 | +2.0 |
 Padres | 71 | 61 | .538 | — |
 Diamondbacks | 69 | 63 | .523 | 2.0 |
 Marlins | 67 | 65 | .508 | 4.0 |
 Cardinals | 66 | 66 | .500 | 5.0 |
| Pirates | 64 | 69 | .481 | 7.5 |
 Reds | 62 | 70 | .470 | 9.0 |
San Diego's 71-61 mark is good for the third and last NL Wild Card spot, with an elimination number of 22. Chicago leads the group at 76-56, 5.0 games up, and Philadelphia sits second at 73-59, 2.0 up.
Behind the Padres, Arizona (69-63) trails by 2.0 games, Miami (67-65) by 4.0, St. Louis (66-66) by 5.0, Pittsburgh (64-69) by 7.5 and Cincinnati (62-70) by 9.0 — a group of five clubs still within shouting distance of San Diego's spot.
Harris up as Musgrove and Pivetta push forward
The Padres selected Dustin Harris on August 24, per MLB Trade Rumors. On the injury front, Joe Musgrove will make his next rehab start at Triple-A El Paso on Thursday, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports, and Nick Pivetta is set to resume his rehab assignment with Single-A Lake Elsinore this week, according to Annie Heilbrunn of The San Diego Union-Tribune. Lucas Giolito has been throwing at the club's complex in Arizona, though MLB.com reports his return timeline is still unclear.
Elsewhere, Casey Mize had X-rays on his sprained right ankle come back clean and hopes to make his next start, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
Kwanza Jones, one day into ownership
Barstool Bush's own coverage introduced Kwanza Jones as the Padres' new owner today, and the network matched her energy. @barstoolsports wrote that Jones "has been on the job for one day and already created a dynasty," and @StoolBaseball ran the same story under Jordie's byline with the quote, "We're Gonna Win And Win It All."
Earlier in the day, @barstoolsports had already called Jones, five minutes into the job, "the most passionate owner in sports."
Upcoming
The Padres host the Pirates tonight, and Pittsburgh is sending Bubba Chandler (6-8, 4.38 ERA) to the mound. Chandler lasted just 4.0 innings in his last start against the Dodgers on August 21, allowing 4 earned runs on 4 hits with 6 strikeouts and 2 walks across 88 pitches in a no-decision. San Diego has not yet named a starter for the opener.
The market favors the Padres, and the total points to a low-scoring night at Petco Park — a read that squares with a Pittsburgh lineup facing a Chandler who got hit hard his last time out, against a San Diego staff still replacing Musgrove and Pivetta. For that number to hold, whoever the Padres turn to on short notice needs to keep the game as tight as the books expect.