The Padres have yet to lose in James Shields' four starts with them. Hitters are batting .215 against Shields this season. Now the Padres face the Astros, who are playing well with a hot pitcher in Collin McHugh.



McHugh, though, didn't fare nearly so well when he pitched in the National League going 4-17 with a 5.36 ERA. Now he faces an NL club that his team, which used to be in the National League, has a bad history against.



Houston is 2-9 in its last 11 games at San Diego, batting under .200 while averaging 2.1 runs during this span. San Diego is 6-1 the past seven times hosting the Astros.



Shields has a strong history against the Astros, too, with a 1.74 ERA and 34 strikeouts in 31 innings during four career starts versus Houston.



I give the Padres the advantage here and the price is certainly low enough to get involved with them.