Padres Start Road Trip in Cincinnati

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May 31, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Odrisamer Despaigne (40) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Game 3 Sunday, 10:10am

Odrisamer Despaigne (3-3, 4.56 ERA) vs. Johnny Cueto (3-4, 2.90 ERA)

Despaigne has really turned in around in his last two starts. In those starts, he has pitched a combined 14 innings and has only allowed one run and walked one with 9 strikeouts. This will make what to do with Brandon Morrow a hard decision when he returns after his rehab stint. Despaigne has shown he belongs in the rotation in the last few weeks. He has never faced the Reds.

Cueto has had a good year without much run support. He was an All-Star last season and finished 2nd in Cy Young voting. He has a 4.50 ERA in 7 career starts against the Padres. He has been really good at home this year, with a 1.55 ERA compared to a 3.83 road ERA.

Perhaps facing Cueto is exactly what Matt Kemp needs to break out of his month-long slump. He is hitting .462 with two home runs against him.

The Padres have some momentum after that series win against the Mets. If the Padres can win this series, they will be at .500 and the momentum would increase. That is what I am predicting. The Reds are a bad team this year, with a 4.53 bullpen ERA, which is over half a run worse than the Padres. The Reds are also dead last in the MLB with runners in scoring position, hitting .199. The Padres need to take advantage of this and get back to .500.

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