The San Diego Padres finished the unofficial first half of the season with a series win versus the Philadelphia Phillies. Ryan Bergert was called up for the first game and pitched 4.2 innings, allowing three hits and two runs with seven strikeouts in 82 pitches. The Four Horseman of the bullpen allowed no runs to finish the last four innings.
The second game was started by Yu Darvish, his second start since returning from elbow issues, which kept him out for the first three months of the season. Darvish pitched
4.2 innings while allowing five hits and four runs in 83 pitches. Centerfielder Jackson Merrill broke out of his long slump in a big way, hitting two home runs and accounting for three RBI in a second consecutive victory over the Phillies. Once again the bullpen stepped up, covering the rest of the game without three of their four high leverage relievers. Bryan Hoeing, Wandy Peralta, David Morgan, Yuki Matsui and Jeremiah Estrada combined for 4.1 innings without allowing a run.
Nick Pivetta had another outstanding outing for the last game of the series, throwing 6.2 innings with three hits and one run while striking out eight Phillies. Xander Bogaerts tried to spur the offense, going 2 for 2 with two walks and two stolen bases but the rest of the offense didn’t kick in and the Friars lost the last game.
Padres All-Stars
After the game on Sunday, Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr, Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon and Robert Suarez headed out to Atlanta for the All-Star game. All four appeared in the game with Machado starting and the others coming in in relief.
Machado was the victim of the first successful Automatic Ball/Strike system call in an All-Star game but otherwise contributed a great defensive play. Tatis Jr scored as part of a three run home run for the National League and subbed in left field. Adam had a clean appearance but Morejon and Suarez did not fair as well, both allowing runs to the American League All-Stars.
All-Star birth
During the weekend, Gavin Sheets was placed on paternity leave for the birth of his child and Luis Campusano was called up briefly to bolster the roster. Sheets was reactivated before the team left for their road trip and Campusano was sent back to El Paso. He was 0 for 3 with two strikeouts in the Sunday game.
Finishing strong
The Friars (52-44 record) trail the Dodgers by 5.5 games and are in second place in the NL West. They are 0.5 games up on the Giants for the last Wild Card spot. During the ten game home stand going into the break they played to a 6-4 record with a welcome resurgence from the offense.
Manny Machado had four homers during the stretch with six RBI. Jackson Merrill had the two home runs and four RBI. Luis Arraez, Jake Cronenworth, Gavin Sheets and Tatis Jr all had a home run over the ten games. The team combined for 30 RBI over the stretch with Machado leading the way.
What should we expect in the second half?
It looks like Bogaerts’ luck has changed as well as the fact that he is making consistent hard contact with the baseball. Machado has hit his 350th homer, his 2000 hit already this season and this could be the year he finishes with a .300 average. Tatis Jr looks to have his mojo coming back and if those three have support from a resurgent Merrill then the next 66 games should be fun.
Trade deadline is July 31
Anything that general manager AJ Preller adds over the next two weeks can only be a positive move. The black hole that sits at the bottom of the batting order can be significantly improved by adding a left fielder or a DH. If they are unable to find another catcher then there must be an improvement made to the bench. The two main bench pieces, Jose Iglesias and Tyler Wade, have a combined .221 average with a .568 OPS. Back up outfielder Brandon Lockridge has a .216 average and .519 OPS. None of these numbers are sufficient for a playoff team.
Injury news
Since the return of Yu Darvish, the Padres got another bit of good news. Michael King has progressed in his return from the IL with successive bullpen sessions that have taken him into an up/down progression. The next step should be to throw to hitters and then a rehab stint somewhere in the organization. Because he didn’t have a structural injury, he doesn't need to progress slowly. It should look more like a spring training build up. An early August return is a possibility.
To begin the ten game road trip that accommodates San Diego Comic-Con, the Padres will play a series in Washington versus the Nationals and will reshuffle the rotation for the second half.
Dylan Cease will start the first game with Yu Darvish pitching on Saturday and Nick Pivetta making the start on Sunday.
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