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Maddux hopes to join success of Padres' rotation

May 31, 2007 - 2:44 PM San Diego (30-22) at Pittsburgh (23-29) 7:05 pm EDT

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) - May of has been very good to most of the members of the San Diego Padres. Greg Maddux must be wondering what he did to miss out on the fun.

Maddux takes the mound as the Padres conclude their three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park on Thursday.

On their way to posting five of the team's major league-leading eight shutouts in May, San Diego's starters have gone 14-4. Two of the shutouts have come over the past three games by rotation stalwarts Jake Peavy and Chris Young.

Maddux (4-3, 4.20 ERA), whose 4.55 ERA in five May outings is the worst among Padres' starters, will look to close out a solid month for San Diego. He is 25-16 with seven complete games and a 2.62 ERA in 50 career starts against the Pirates.

In his last start Friday against Milwaukee, the 41-year-old righthander picked up his second May win, allowing three runs and nine hits in 5 2/3 innings.

Shawn Chacon (1-0, 3.38 ERA) will oppose Maddux. In his lone start this season, a 9-5 victory at Cincinnati on Saturday, Chacon left after only 3 2/3 innings without a decision, allowing one run, three hits and five walks.

Chacon is 3-1 with a 4.03 ERA in 15 career appearances - including seven starts - against San Diego. He has allowed 23 runs in 51 1/3 innings.

The teams have split the first two games of the series. Pittsburgh has not won a home series since sweeping Houston in a three-game set April 24-26.