TV: 4 San Diego, 5:05 p.m. | Radio: 1090-AM and 105.7-FM; 860-AM (Spanish
Season series: The Padres and Rangers have yet to meet this year and are 8-8 against each other since their first meeting in 1997.
Rangers update: The Rangers are 19-19 at home. Rangers pitchers have a 4.97 ERA inside their hitter-friendly ballpark, and visiting clubs have averaged 5.37 runs per game. Outfielder Gary Matthews Jr., who was drafted as a shortstop and signed by the Padres in 1993, is batting .344 with seven home runs and 25 doubles. Brad Wilkerson's 13 home runs lead an offense that's averaged 4.94 runs per home game.
The skinny: After amassing 14 hits in Anaheim on Sunday, Padres hitters looked forward to batting in Texas' ballpark, where balls zoom, especially to right-center. “You have to hit it, though. It doesn't fly by itself,” said third baseman Vinny Castilla. The Padres' Mike Thompson is coming off a seven-inning, two-run, 79-pitch outing against the Dodgers. The Rangers' Vicente Padilla, pitching for the Phillies, overpowered the Padres last year in San Diego. Rangers infielder Michael Young is coming off a five-hit game.
Roberts update: The agent of Padres outfielder Dave Roberts (bruised knee) says Roberts told him he expects to come off the DL in two weeks.
– TOM KRASOVIC
Probable series starters
TODAY, 5:05 P.M.
Padres: RHP Mike Thompson(2-2, 4.24 ERA)
Rangers: RHP Vicente Padilla(6-4, 4.65 ERA)
TOMORROW, 5:05 P.M.
Padres: RHP Chris Young(6-3, 3.27 ERA)
Rangers: RHP Kevin Millwood(8-3, 4.47 ERA)
THURSDAY, 11:05 A.M.
Padres: RHP Clay Hensley(4-5, 4.05 ERA)
Rangers: LHP John Rheinecker(2-1, 3.60 ERA)
