Pades Look to Improve Playoff Position

Pittsburgh (66-84) at San Diego (82-67), 7:05 pm, 4SD/1090/105.7

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) -- The San Diego Padres look to continue their push toward the postseason when they host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday. In addition to holding down the top spot in the National League wild card race - 1 1/2 games ahead of the Philadelphia Philadelphia (81-69) - the Padres also are within striking distance in the NL West, where they trail the Arizona Diamondbacks (84-67) by just one game.

Veteran righthander Greg Maddux (12-10, 3.91) takes the mound for the Padres, who are gunning for their third consecutive division title. The Padres have had success recently with the 41-year-old on the mound, winning seven of the last nine games started by Maddux. Although he is a future Hall of Famer, Maddux is just 1-3 in his last seven starts against the lowly Pirates dating to 2005.

Tom Gorzelanny (14-7, 3.45), a bright spot in another losing season for the Pirates, will be after his 15th win of the season Tuesday. No Pittsburgh player has won 15 games in a season since Todd Ritchie did so in 1999.