(Photo credit: Troy Taormina-Imagn Images)

Houston Astros rookie right fielder Cam Smith will remain under a microscope for the foreseeable future, with his progress at the plate and in the field a source of constant dialogue.

When Smith belted a pair of home runs in the Astros' 6-4 win over the San Diego Padres in the opener of a three-game interleague series on Friday, it spurred additional discourse about his development. Smith finished 2-for-4 with four RBIs, socking a three-run homer in the second inning and a solo shot in the fourth.

Mix in some challenging plays defensively, and Smith did enough to inspire even more analysis.

'This is a long journey, and he's doing a nice job just pacing himself,' Astros manager Joe Espada said. 'For me, he's progressing. Sometimes we want to slow things down with him, when it comes to any young player. Reminding him (that) to be successful, you've got to be patient. It's one swing at a time, one at-bat at a time. And he's doing just that.'

Right-hander Hayden Wesneski (1-1, 4.00 ERA) has the starting assignment for the Astros on Saturday. He posted a career-high 10 strikeouts in a 7-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, allowing three runs on five hits over six innings. It marked his second consecutive quality start.

Wesneski is 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA in two career starts against the Padres. In his last start against San Diego on May 8, 2024, Wesneski allowed three runs on seven hits and one walk with three strikeouts over six innings in a 3-0 loss while pitching for the Chicago Cubs.

Right-hander Michael King (3-0, 2.42 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Padres.

King has won each of his previous three starts, with a pair of scoreless appearances in that stretch. He tossed a two-hit shutout at the Colorado Rockies on Sunday, allowing one walk with eight strikeouts in a 6-0 home victory. King recorded a season-high 11 strikeouts while twirling five scoreless innings against the Cleveland Guardians in a 7-0 home win on April 1.

King is 3-1 with a 2.60 ERA over seven career appearances (two starts) against the Astros. In his previous start versus Houston, King allowed two runs on five hits and one walk with seven strikeouts over seven innings but did not factor into the decision of a 4-3 loss on Sept. 17, 2024.

Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill (right hamstring strain) was eligible to return from the 10-day injured list on Thursday, while second baseman Jake Cronenworth (non-displaced rib fracture) is eligible to do so on Saturday. Neither is set to join the active roster this weekend against the Astros, although Cronenworth currently is with the club.

Merrill, meanwhile, is not in Houston and remains in a controlled environment as part of his pending return.

'He is getting to a point where he can start to jog a little bit and do some baseball activity,' Padres manager Mike Shildt said of Merrill. 'The good news is he's recovering every day and has looked a little bit better, and his strength is beginning to come back.

'Jake is on the road with us doing some baseball activities. He's starting to get a little more range of motion, so it's just a matter of him being able to do what he can do based on what his tolerance is.'

--Field Level Media