The Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres meet at Petco Park in an intriguing National League matchup. The Pirates enter the game with a 63-69 record, while the Padres are 71-60 and remain in contention near the top of the NL West.
The Pirates vs Padres game is scheduled for Monday, August 24, 2026, at 9:40 p.m. ET at Petco Park in San Diego. Here is everything fans need to know, including the TV channel, streaming options, starting pitchers, odds, injuries and key players.
Pirates vs Padres Game Details
The matchup between Pittsburgh and San Diego will take place at Petco Park.
- Matchup: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. San Diego Padres
- Date: August 24, 2026
- Time: 9:40 p.m. ET
- Venue: Petco Park, San Diego
- TV: Padres.TV and SportsNet PT
- Streaming: Fubo
- Padres record: 71-60
- Pirates record: 63-69
Starting Pitchers
The Padres are expected to start Robbie Ray, who has posted an 11-7 record with a 3.20 ERA this season. His experience and consistency will be important as San Diego looks to protect home-field advantage.
Pittsburgh is expected to counter with Braxton Ashcraft. The right-hander enters the matchup with a 13-5 record and a 3.74 ERA, giving the Pirates a strong option on the mound.
The starting-pitching battle could play a major role in determining the outcome of the game.
Padres Look to Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr.
San Diego has several offensive weapons capable of making an immediate impact.
Jackson Merrill enters the matchup on a two-game home run streak, making him one of the players to watch closely against Pittsburgh.
Fernando Tatis Jr. has also enjoyed an impressive season. He is batting .290/.361/.453 with 17 home runs, 67 RBIs and an .814 OPS in 569 plate appearances. Tatis has added 29 stolen bases and scored 75 runs.
Manny Machado has supplied 24 home runs and 72 RBIs this season. His current batting line is .216/.303/.410 through 546 plate appearances.
Pirates’ Key Offensive Players
Bryan Reynolds remains an important part of Pittsburgh’s lineup. He is batting .261 with a .370 on-base percentage and .426 slugging percentage. Reynolds has 15 home runs, 66 RBIs and 87 runs scored.
Brandon Lowe is another major power threat for the Pirates. He has hit 27 home runs and recorded 80 RBIs in 540 plate appearances. Lowe is batting .255/.320/.480 and has scored 78 runs.
The Pirates will need contributions from both hitters if they want to challenge San Diego on the road.
Pirates vs Padres Injury Report
The Padres are dealing with several injuries entering the matchup.
Miguel Andujar is on the 10-day injured list with a wrist injury, while Samad Taylor is dealing with an oblique injury. Lucas Giolito is on the 15-day IL with an elbow issue.
Jason Adam, Joe Musgrove, Bryan Hoeing, Ramon Laureano and Nick Pivetta are all on the 60-day injured list with shoulder, elbow or hip injuries. Casey Mize is listed as day-to-day with an ankle issue.
The Pirates also have several players unavailable. Endy Rodriguez is on the 10-day IL with a hip injury, while Ryan O’Hearn is dealing with a quadricep issue.
Mitch Keller is on the 60-day IL with an arm injury, and Konnor Griffin is also on the 60-day IL with a finger injury.
Pirates vs Padres Odds
The Padres enter the game as slight favorites.
The San Diego moneyline is listed at -120, while Pittsburgh is the +100 underdog. The game total is set at 7.5 runs, with the over at +100 and the under at -120.
The relatively close moneyline indicates that bookmakers expect a competitive matchup despite San Diego’s stronger season record.
What to Watch in Pirates vs Padres
One of the biggest storylines will be the matchup between the Pirates’ hitters and Robbie Ray. San Diego’s starting pitcher has a 3.20 ERA, giving the Padres an advantage on the mound.
Pittsburgh will rely heavily on Braxton Ashcraft, whose 13-5 record makes him a key part of the Pirates’ hopes.
The Padres’ recent offensive momentum will also be worth watching. Jackson Merrill’s two-game home run streak adds another layer to a lineup that already includes Tatis Jr. and Machado.
For Pittsburgh, Bryan Reynolds and Brandon Lowe will be among the biggest offensive threats. Their ability to reach base and produce extra-base hits could determine whether the Pirates can keep pace with San Diego.
Pirates vs Padres Prediction Outlook
The Padres appear to have the advantage heading into the matchup. San Diego owns the better record, will play in front of its home crowd and has Robbie Ray scheduled to start.
However, Pittsburgh has enough talent to make the game competitive. Ashcraft has been effective this season, while Reynolds and Lowe provide significant offensive production.
The close betting line suggests that this could be a tighter game than the teams’ records might indicate.
Final Thoughts
The Pirates vs Padres matchup features two teams with different objectives as the regular season moves forward. San Diego is fighting near the top of the NL West, while Pittsburgh is looking to gain ground in the NL Central.
With Robbie Ray and Braxton Ashcraft on the mound and players such as Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, Bryan Reynolds and Brandon Lowe in the spotlight, there are plenty of reasons to watch.
Fans searching for Pirates vs Padres TV channel, start time, streaming information, odds, starting pitchers and injury updates can tune in at 9:40 p.m. ET from Petco Park.
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