Padres Aim to Sweep Struggling Pirates

The San Diego Padres are on a hot streak, having won 18 of their last 21 games and aiming for a series sweep against the Pittsburgh Pirates, who have lost nine consecutive games. Key performances for the Padres include Michael King's six shutout innings on Tuesday and crucial hits from Manny Machado and David Peralta. The Padres lead the season series 5-0 against the Pirates, who have struggled offensively, going 1-for-17 with runners in scoring position during this series. Pittsburgh is now seven games out of the final NL Wild Card spot, while San Diego is contending for the NL West title or a top wild-card spot. The Pirates' pitching, led by Luis Ortiz, has been inconsistent, with Ortiz struggling in recent outings. The Padres' bullpen has been heavily utilized but remains effective.