Trying to Win a Series, the Padres Take on the New York Mets

May 30, 2014; Chicago, IL, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Ian Kennedy (22) throws a pitch against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at U.S Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike DiNovo-USA TODAY Sports

The San Diego Padres broke up a five game losing streak with a 5-0 win Saturday and now have a chance to win their first series of the month with a 10:10 am PDT first pitch against the New York Mets.

After beating the White Sox in the first two games of a three game series at the end of May, the Padres have lost three straight series, including a sweep at the hands of the Phillies on the first leg of their current road trip. They will also be looking to break up a two game losing skid on Sundays. San Diego started the season 6-2 on Sundays before their two game slide.

The Padres will send Ian Kennedy to the hill against Daisuke Matsuzaka at Citi Field.

Kennedy is making his 15th start of the season the right-hander is 5-7 with a 3.63 era over 86.2 innings pitched. He has allowed seven earned runs over his last 13 innings spanning two starts. The Phillies touched him up for five runs in seven innings on June 10th. That broke up a string of three straight wins for Kennedy. In all three of those starts he allowed 2 or fewer runs over six innings pitched.

This is Kennedy’s first start against the Mets this season. Last year he started two games vs New York, one for the Padres and one for the Diamondbacks. He allowed five runs in 4.2 innings in his start for San Diego in 2013.

The Padres will face Matsuzaka for just the second time ever. He held the Padres to just a single run on five hits over six innings on June 22, 2007 when he was with Boston. This year Matsuzaka is 3-0 with a 2.95 era over 19 games and three starts. In his last start he tossed six innings and allowed one run on three hits against Milwaukee to pick up his third win.

The road trip will continue for the Padres as they will swing back westward to take on the Mariners for two games in Seattle. Wednesday the Padres return to San Diego for a five game series with two against Seattle and a three game weekend set against the Dodgers. That weekend series will usher in a run of nine straight against the NL West.