Giants at Padres preview

SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — The San Diego Padres host the San Francisco Giants on Friday night at PETCO Park, opening a three-game series between National League West rivals.

San Diego (55-53) enters the game a half-game above .500, while San Francisco (46-62) sits 16 games under .500. The teams played Thursday night, with the game ending in a 0-0 tie. The Padres have won four of six meetings this season, including a 5-1 victory May 6 and a 10-5 win May 5 in San Francisco.

The Giants are coming off a 16-3 rout of the Milwaukee Brewers on Wednesday, their most lopsided win of the season. Catcher Daniel Susac went 2-for-4 with two home runs and four RBIs. Susac, a player to watch for San Francisco, has been inconsistent in recent games. He also drove in a run July 24 against the Angels but has four hitless outings in his past seven games, including an 0-for-4 July 18 at Seattle.

San Diego won 3-1 against Colorado on Wednesday, with right-hander Griffin Canning pitching three scoreless innings in relief, allowing one hit and striking out four. Canning, a key reliever for the Padres, has been sharp recently but struggled in two earlier July outings, allowing four earned runs in each of those appearances.

The Padres have won five of their past seven games, while the Giants have won four of six, including three straight against Milwaukee.

San Diego’s pitching staff has been effective lately, holding opponents to three runs or fewer in four of the past five games. San Francisco’s offense exploded Wednesday behind Susac, left fielder Heliot Ramos (4-for-5, three RBIs) and starter Logan Webb, who allowed two earned runs over six innings.

The Padres hold a 4-2 advantage in the season series. In the three-game set at PETCO Park in April, San Diego took two of three, winning 7-1 on April 1 after losing 9-3 on March 31 and 3-2 on March 30.

Interstat’s game simulator projects a 6-4 San Diego victory.

After Friday’s game, the series continues Saturday and Sunday. The Giants then travel to Texas for a three-game set against the Rangers, while the Padres visit Arizona for four games.