Padres News: San Diego Faces Off Against Tampa Bay in Key Matchup

The San Diego Padres are set to face off against the Tampa Bay Rays in the second game of their three-game series on Saturday. The matchup will take place at 4:10 p.m. EDT in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Currently, the Padres hold a 1-0 lead in the series. They have an overall record of 77-60 and are performing well on the road with a 40-28 record. The team boasts the sixth-best on-base percentage in Major League Baseball at .326.

The Rays, with a record of 66-68, are looking to improve their home performance, where they are currently 34-35. They have shown strength in games where they hit two or more home runs, going 19-8 in those situations.

On the mound for the Padres will be Randy Vasquez, who has a record of 4-6 with a 4.52 ERA and 55 strikeouts this season. The Rays will counter with Shane Baz, who is 1-2 with a 3.48 ERA and 36 strikeouts.

BETMGM SPORTSBOOK : LINE Rays -121, Padres +102; over/under is 8 runs

Key players to watch include Yandy Diaz for the Rays, who leads the team with a .276 batting average, 26 doubles, and 12 home runs. Jonny Deluca has also been contributing, going 10-for-37 with a home run and four RBIs in his last ten games.

For the Padres, Jurickson Profar has 24 doubles and 21 home runs, while Manny Machado is hitting well, with 13 hits in his last 38 at-bats, including three home runs.

In their last ten games, the Rays have struggled with a 4-6 record and a .208 batting average, while the Padres are slightly better at 5-5, with a .258 batting average.

Injury concerns are affecting both teams. The Rays are missing several players, including Yandy Diaz (day-to-day with a knee issue) and Shane McClanahan (60-day IL with a forearm injury).

The Padres are also dealing with injuries, including Yu Darvish and Fernando Tatis Jr., both on the injured list.

As the series continues, both teams will be looking to capitalize on their strengths and overcome their challenges.