The Padres take on the Cardinals, with Nick Pivetta & Miles Mikolas getting the starts. Analysis centers on their recent performances.

ST. LOUIS — The Padres started and finished strong on their longest road trip of the season. They concluded the 10-game, three-city trip Sunday with a 9-2 victory over the Cardinals built mostly in the first four innings.

Its Thursday, July 24 and the Padres (55-47) are in St. Louis to open a series against the Cardinals (52-51). Yu Darvish is slated to take the mound for San Diego against Sonny Gray for St. Louis.

It took just one inning to spark the St. Louis Cardinals to a decisive victory against San Diego and out of their recent doldrums at the plate.

Jay, a member of two World Series teams and five consecutive playoff clubs for the Cardinals, was 16 for his first 60 (.267) before Thursday night with the Padres, where he has been their leadoff man.

The Padres will hand the ball to Michael King (11-7, 3.14) for the final game at Busch Stadium. King was acquired by San Diego in the beginning of the season in a move that sent Juan Soto to the ...

What transpires this weekend could potentially shape a wild-card race that is all but sure to come down to the final day of the season.