Right-hander Ian Kennedy makes his third start in a San Diego uniform on Friday night when the Padres host the New York Mets in game two of a four-game series at Petco Park.
A 21-game winner in 2011 and a 15-time winner last season for Arizona, Kennedy skidded to just three wins in 11 decisions over 21 starts this year before he was shipped to the Padres in a three-player deal on July 31.
He debuted with the Padres on Aug. 4 and was a 6-3 winner over the New York Yankees after allowing two runs on four hits in 5 2/3 innings of work.
He pitched well in a no-decision in start No. 2 seven days later in Cincinnati, scattering three hits and allowing two runs on eight innings of a game the Padres ultimately lost, 3-2.
He's 4-0 in five career starts against the Mets and last faced them while with Arizona on July 4, when he surrendered two runs on six hits over seven innings of a game Arizona won, 5-4.
Kennedy is 4-1 in seven career starts at Petco Park while posting a 2.40 earned run average across 41 1/3 innings.
He faces lefty Jonathon Niese, who picked up a win in his last start - just his second over his last 10 outings.
The 26-year-old was 2-0 through his first three starts of the season, but had won just once in 11 subsequent starts while watching his ERA climb from 3.57 to 4.32.
He got back on the winning side of the ledger on Aug. 11 in Arizona, where he allowed four runs on seven hits in six innings of New York's 9-5 win. It was his first start since June 20 because of a partially torn rotator cuff.
Niese is 2-2 in four career starts against the Padres.
On Thursday, Marlon Byrd's two-run double in the eighth inning lifted the Mets to a 4-1 win over the Padres.
With two on and two outs, Byrd laced a double over the head of Chris Denorfia in right, allowing Mike Baxter and Daniel Murphy to score. John Buck added a solo homer in the ninth to account for the final margin.
Josh Satin finished with two hits and an RBI and Murphy added a pair of runs scored for the Mets, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Scott Atchison (3-1) earned the win after tossing a perfect inning in relief and Gonzalez Germen notched his first career save after spinning a pair of scoreless innings.
New York starter Zack Wheeler gave up one run on seven hits while fanning a career-high 12 batters over six solid innings.
Luke Gregerson (5-7) was pegged with the loss after giving up Byrd's double. Starter Tyson Ross did not factor in the decision despite giving up just one run on five hits while striking out eight over seven innings.
The Padres entered the series with a slim 229-224 lead in the all-time series with the Mets, which stretches back to 1969. New York won two of three when the teams last met from April 1-4 at Citi Field.
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