Nick Pivetta will help lead the visiting Padres to a win over the Cardinals on Friday night, Stitches predicts.

The San Diego Padres face the St. Louis Cardinals in the opener of a 4-game set at Busch Stadium in St. Louis Thursday.

It's Friday, July 25 and the Padres (55-48) are in St. Louis to take on the Cardinals (53-51). Nick Pivetta is slated to take the mound for San Diego against Miles Mikolas for St. Louis. The Padres have dropped three consecutive games,

Buster Olney of ESPN reported that starting pitcher Dylan Cease could be available at the MLB trade deadline. San Diego is open to moving its All-Star pitcher, especially in a market thin on front-line starters. In return, the Padres want MLB talent who can help them win in October.

As the trade deadline nears, those close to Miami Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara are making it known he is bracing for himself to be traded in the next week.