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Padres-Pirates Preview

Jul 24, 2010 - 4:20 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

San Diego (55-39) at Pittsburgh (34-61), 7:05 p.m. EDT

Mat Latos' side injury was just about as unexpected as the quick success he's had in his first full season as a starter.

Latos, who was in the midst of an outstanding run before getting hurt, is expected to come off the disabled to start the San Diego Padres' matchup with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night.

Strong pitching has helped put San Diego (56-39) into first place in the NL West, and much of the credit belongs to Latos (10-4, 2.45 ERA).

After 10 inconsistent starts last year, Latos has exceeded expectations, becoming one of the majors' top young pitchers. The 22-year-old right-hander has struck out 99 in 106 2-3 innings while holding opponents to a .193 average.

"He's showing what we all think he can do," closer Heath Bell told the Padres' official website. "He's not just a young kid with great, unbelievable stuff that doesn't know what he's doing - every outing he's learning."

Latos was 5-0 with a 1.12 ERA in six starts before a strained left oblique landed him on the 15-day DL. Latos said the injury occurred while trying to hold back a sneeze.

In his last start, Latos struck out eight in seven shutout innings in a 7-1 victory over Washington on July 8.

Latos has never faced the Pirates.

San Diego got yet another effective effort from its pitchers Friday night, beating Pittsburgh 5-3 in the opener of this three-game set. The Padres' bullpen, which has an NL-best 2.84 ERA, tossed three scoreless innings as the Padres won for the sixth time in eight games.

San Diego bounced back at the plate after losing 8-0 to Atlanta the previous day.

Padres first baseman Adrian Gonzalez is 1 for 13 over his past four contests, but he walked three times, scored once and drove in a run Friday. Gonzalez has 19 RBIs in his last 17 games against Pittsburgh (34-62).

The Padres have won 22 of their last 31 games at Pittsburgh.

The Pirates had won nine of 12 at home before losing their last two. They had a tough time on the mound against San Diego after surrendering three runs or fewer in four of their previous five contests.

Pittsburgh will now give the ball to Jeff Karstens (2-5, 4.84), who is 0-2 with a 6.35 ERA in his past three outings. The right-hander gave up three runs in six innings of a 3-1 loss to Milwaukee on Monday night.

Karstens, a native of San Diego, is making his first start against the Padres. He has faced them twice in relief, surrendering five runs in 2 1-3 innings.

The Pirates' lineup will try to give him some support after scoring five runs over their last two games.

Pittsburgh rookie Neil Walker went 0 for 3 following a 16-for-27 (.593) stretch in which he drove in eight runs. Walker entered this series batting .400 in 21 home games.