(Photo credit: David Frerker-Imagn Images)

With two-thirds of the season in the history books, the San Diego Padres are playing like a team that finally understands the assignment.

'All these games are important,' said Padres second baseman Jake Cronenworth. 'We need to put ourselves in a position to go to the playoffs.'

A five-game winning streak, including Wednesday's 3-1 victory over Colorado that polished off a two-game series sweep, has allowed San Diego to jump over four teams in less than a week in the National League wild-card race. It will try to make it six in a row when it starts a four-game series Thursday night against the visiting San Francisco Giants.

The Padres' 'TBD' pitching plan worked almost flawlessly Wednesday. Six pitchers teamed up for a six-hitter with right-hander Griffin Canning getting the win as the bulk reliever. The high-leverage end of the bullpen got a boost with right-hander Jeremiah Estrada's return from a right knee injury that sidelined him for nearly two months.

Estrada pitched a scoreless eighth inning, walking the leadoff man before striking out the side.

'It's great to see him coming back,' said Padres manager Craig Stammen. 'I was a little worried when he walked the first guy, but the fastball was playing up the way it needs to.'

JP Sears (3-3, 3.86 ERA) is scheduled to make his sixth start in seven outings this season for San Diego. The left-hander earned the win in his last outing, a 7-2 victory over host Miami on Saturday, when he entered the game with two outs in the third inning. He limited the Marlins to one hit and one walk with three strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings.

Sears is 3-1 with a 1.76 ERA and 28 strikeouts in 30 2/3 innings over five career starts against San Francisco.

While San Diego tries to stay on a roll, the Giants look to play the spoiler's role and perhaps evaluate what moves they can make at the MLB trade deadline. One guy they could dangle to contenders is Thursday night's expected starter, Robbie Ray (9-6, 3.16).

The left-hander last pitched on Saturday, cruising to a 9-2 home win over the Los Angeles Angels. Ray scattered six hits in six shutout innings, walking two and fanning five. In his career against the Padres, Ray is 7-7 with a 4.01 ERA in 116 2/3 innings over 21 starts.

San Francisco comes to San Diego fresh off a 16-3 rout of Milwaukee on Wednesday that allowed the host Giants to take two of three games from the NL Central leaders. Catcher Daniel Susac belted the first two homers of his career to lead a 17-hit attack.

It was the third-highest run total this year for the Giants, who have hit well (.254) but are 21st in the majors in runs (457). The offense could struggle more down the stretch for multiple reasons. Casey Schmitt, who has slugged a career-high 21 homers, 'more than likely' will miss the season's remainder with a torn meniscus in his left knee sustained Monday night, first-year manager Tony Vitello said on Wednesday.

Also, NL batting leader Luis Arraez and outfielder Heliot Ramos are considered likely trade candidates.

'There will be changes for sure,' Vitello said. 'For any team that makes a change throughout the league, it's a bit of a restart to the season or a fresh start.'

San Francisco and San Diego have split six meetings this year, with each team winning two of three on the road.

--Field Level Media