Padres On Deck Vs. Reds, Game 1 of 3

Cincinnati (21-26) at San Diego (17-31), 7:05 pm, 4SD/1090/105.7

SAN DIEGO (Ticker) - The San Diego Padres are currently losing more than baseball games. The shorthanded Padres host the Cincinnati Reds in the opener of a four-game series on Thursday.

San Diego has lost six of its last eight games, including a dismal 11-3 setback to the St. Louis Cardinals on Wednesday - a day after ace Jake Peavy went on the 15-day disabled list with a strained right elbow. The Padres endured two more key injuries Wednesday as both righthander Chris Young and catcher Josh Bard were forced from the game. Young suffered a nasal fracture and lacerations to his nose after he was hit in the face with a line drive off the bat of Cardinals' first baseman Albert Pujols in the third inning. Later in the frame, Bard was injured when Pujols slid into his left ankle while scoring on a hit by Troy Glaus. Bard will be evaluated on Thursday, though initial reports categorized the injury as a spain.

Randy Wolf (2-4, 5.05 ERA) tries to snap a three-game losing streak when he toes the rubber for the Padres on Thursday. The 31-year-old lefthander surrendered three runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings, walking one while striking out five en route to a 4-2 setback to the Seattle Mariners on Saturday.

Aaron Harang (2-5, 3.12) hopes for increased run support when he counters for the Reds, who have gone just 5-5 while scoring just over three runs per game this season with their staff ace on the mound.