SAN DIEGO (Interstat) -- The Cincinnati Reds visit the San Diego Padres on Tuesday, June 9, 2026, at PETCO Park for the second game of a three-game series.

The Reds (31-33) send rookie right-hander Chase Burns (7-1) to the mound. Burns has been Cincinnati’s most reliable starter this season. He will face Padres righty Lucas Giolito (2-1).

San Diego (33-31) enters the game a half-game ahead of Cincinnati in the standings. The Padres took Monday’s series opener by a 3-1 score.

Reds shortstop Matt McLain is a player to watch. In Sunday’s 5-3 loss at St. Louis, McLain went 2-for-4 with two home runs and two RBIs. He has homered in consecutive games and has four hits in his last two contests. Over his previous 10 games, McLain has three home runs and four RBIs.

Padres catcher Freddy Fermin also is swinging a hot bat. In Sunday’s 7-3 loss to the New York Mets, Fermin went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBIs. He has two home runs and five RBIs over his last two games.

Cincinnati is coming off a three-game sweep at St. Louis. The Reds lost 5-3 on Sunday, dropping them two games below .500. The Reds entered the series in fourth place in the National League Central.

San Diego lost two of three at home to the Mets over the weekend. The Padres are in third place in the NL West.

A projected close game is expected. Interstat’s game simulator forecasts a 3-2 victory for the Padres.

The series concludes Wednesday afternoon. Cincinnati then returns home to host the Arizona Diamondbacks for three games starting Friday. San Diego travels to Baltimore to open a three-game series against the Orioles on Friday.

Burns has been dominant when facing right-handed hitters this season, holding them to a .212 average. He strikes out 9.4 batters per nine innings. Giolito has a 4.32 ERA in three starts since returning from the injured list.

First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. PDT.