Padres Look to Sweep Series Against Pirates with Stephen Kolek’s Rotation Debut
In an exciting turn of events, the San Diego Padres are set to sweep their series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, with right-hander Stephen Kolek making his rotation debut. The game is scheduled for Sunday at 10:35 a.m. on Padres.TV.
To make way for Kolek, the Padres have optioned right-hander David Morgan to Triple-A El Paso. Despite being called up just last week, Morgan has yet to make his big-league debut. The undrafted free agent from 2022 had a stellar minor league performance, striking out 19 batters in 8⅔ innings with a 3.12 ERA at Double-A San Antonio.
Kolek, 28, has faced challenges in the Pacific Coast League, posting a 6.38 ERA this season in five starts. However, his strikeout rate is promising, with 20 strikeouts and only four walks in 24 innings, including three appearances without allowing a walk. Last year, he held a 5.21 ERA in 46⅔ innings with the Padres’ bullpen after being selected as a Rule 5 pick.
The Padres’ lineup remains unchanged from Saturday’s game, with Elias Díaz catching and batting eighth, and Brandon Lockridge in center field at the ninth spot. On the mound for the Pirates will be left-hander Andrew Heaney, boasting an impressive 2.50 ERA this season. Heaney has historically performed well against the Padres, with a 3-0 record and a 0.96 ERA against them, though he has not faced them since 2022.
With Kolek on the mound and the Padres aiming for a series sweep, fans can expect an exciting game as the team looks to build momentum early in the season.
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