Friars On A Roll, Closing in on a Playoff Berth

Pittsburgh (66-85) at San Diego (83-67), 7:05 pm, 4SD/1090/105.7

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) - The San Diego Padres are in the midst of one of their longest winning streaks of the season. They could not have picked a better time. Chris Young will look to extend the momentum when the Padres host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third game of a four-game series at Petco Park on Wednesday. San Diego posted its season-high fifth straight win on Tuesday, Khalil Greene went 3-for-3 with two RBI in a 5-3 victory. The win kept the Padres one game behind the Arizona Diamondbacks (85-67) in the National League West. The win also kept the Padres 1 1/2 games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies (82-69) in the wild card.

Young (9-7, 2.77 ERA) will be attempting to snap the longest winless streak of his career, failing to win since July 19. The All-Star has lost three of his last four outings. The righthander did not figure in the decision of a 5-4 win over the San Francisco Giants on Friday, despite allowing three runs and six hits in seven innings. It was his first where he worked into the seventh since side and back problems in late July.

Ian Snell (9-12, 3.92) will take the mound for the Pirates. The righthander pitched well in his last start, allowing a run and five hits in six innings but did not factor into a 4-3 win at the Houston Astros on Friday. Pittsburgh has lost its last four games.