Padres pregame: Azocar in center again as Friars seek fifth straight win

The Padres are 1½ games up on the Phillies in the race for the NL’s No. 5 seed and 3½ up after the Brewers” matinee shutout of the Mets. The Padres have had a five-game winning streak twice this season. They play a 6:40 p.m. home game against St. Louis on Wednesday. Jose Azocar is starting a fifth straight game in center field over Trent Grisham. Albert Pujols is again in their lineup at DH. Brandon Drury is out of their starting line-up for first time since his concussion.

Azocar will play center field for the Padres. Cardinals' Miles Mikolas has a 2.59 ERA in four career starts against the team he was drafted in the seventh round in 2009.

Azocar will play center for Friars. Mikolas has not fared well against current Padres.

Blake Snell has a 2.74 ERA, 30 strikeouts and seven walks over his last four starts. He started one of the Padres' three losses in St. Louis in late May.