first pitch: 7:05 p.m. PT
television: Channel 4SD
matchup: Greg Maddux (3-3, 4.14 ERA) vs Dave Bush (3-4, 5.56 ERA)
previews: Padres.com | SI.com
Here come the Brewers. Anthony Gwynn makes his San Diego professional debut. Prince Fielder and J.J. Hardy are tied for the league lead with 14 homers. Rickie Weeks has committed only two errors at second base (after 20+ each of the past two seasons). Closer Francisco Cordero has notched 17 saves and allowed just five hits.
Cordero’s numbers this year are plain goofy. Opponents are batting .083/.179/.133 against him. He’s struck out 13.26 per nine or, if you prefer, 41.8% of batters he’s faced (Jake Peavy is at 29.5% for comparison). The obvious strategy would be to keep Cordero out of the game at all costs.
The club from Milwaukee has a better record than the Padres, but the two teams should be fairly well matched:
| Padres | Brewers | |
|---|---|---|
| Stats are through May 24, 2007, and courtesy of Baseball-Reference. | ||
| W-L | 26-21 | 28-19 |
| Pythag | 28-19 | 26-21 |
| RS | 193 | 221 |
| RA | 158 | 200 |
| HR | 41 | 61 |
| Bullpen ERA | 2.21 | 3.45 |
Greg Maddux seeks win number 337 on Friday night. Go Padres!