SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — The San Diego Padres host the Chicago White Sox on Friday night at PETCO Park, with the first-place Padres looking to extend their early-season success against a struggling White Sox club.

San Diego, 19-11, enters the game after dropping two of three to the Chicago Cubs, including a 5-4 loss Wednesday. The Padres have been one of the National League’s top teams, while the White Sox, 14-17, have hovered around .500 despite a 3-2, extra-inning win over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday.

Right-hander Germán Márquez (3-1) is scheduled to start for Chicago. He has been a bright spot in the White Sox rotation, posting a solid record through his first several outings. Chicago also listed left-hander Noah Schultz (1-1) as a probable pitcher, though it is unclear if the team plans a bullpen game or a tandem start.

Right-hander Matt Waldron (0-1) is expected to start for San Diego. He struggled in his most recent appearance Wednesday against the Cubs, allowing three earned runs on six hits over five innings in a 5-4 loss. Waldron has been knocked around in his past two starts, yielding six earned runs or more in each.

Erick Fedde is a player to watch for the White Sox after a dominant performance Wednesday: seven innings, two earned runs, five hits, six strikeouts in a 3-2 win over the Angels. It was his second straight victory and third consecutive quality start. Over his last three outings spanning 17 1/3 innings, Fedde has allowed just four earned runs.

For San Diego, Waldron will need to rediscover the form that made him an effective arm earlier this season. He has a 4.50 ERA in three starts.

Oddsmakers have installed the Padres as a favorite with a spread of minus-1.5 runs. The over/under is set at 7.5 runs. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-6 San Diego victory, and its ELO system gives the Padres a 69.5 percent probability to win.

The game is the opener of a three-game series. The teams meet again Saturday and Sunday before the White Sox travel to Los Angeles to face the Angels and the Padres head to San Francisco for a series against the Giants. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. PDT.