Xander Bogaerts has been the most consistent offensive player for the San Diego Padres through the first month of the season — his defense has been pretty good, too. The question, as the calendar turns to May, is can he maintain this pace? There is some reason to think that after three years in San Diego, Bogaerts has finally settled into his place in the Padres clubhouse and the City of San Diego. The result has been a more relaxed, more confident Bogaerts who has hit five home runs for a team that needs
slug from its star players and so far, has not really gotten it. With the day off between the series against the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox, the San Diego roster got a chance to reset. The Padres dropped a close series to the Cubs, 2-1, and welcome the red-hot White Sox who are coming off a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels, which included a win over Jose Soriano, who is arguably one of the best starters in MLB to this point in the season. San Diego will have to be better on offense and on the mound if the Padres want to get back in the win column.
Padres News:
- Lucas Giolito made his second start as a member of the San Diego system and is continuing to build up in anticipation of him joining the Padres’ roster by May 21. As a result of Giolito coming to the team later this month, as well as Griffin Canning knocking on the door of his debut with San Diego, the Padres will have some difficult roster decisions to make concerning their rotation. What they will decide and how they will maneuver the pieces is anyone’s guess.
- Mason Miller finally gave up a run, but at times Padres fans and likely many baseball fans, wondered just how long he could keep his scoreless innings streak going. The answer came last series against the Cubs when he surrendered his first runs of the season, but Jayson Stark of The Athletic asks if Miller is the most unhittable pitcher to ever play the game.
Baseball News:
- The Philadelphia Phillies have been playing better and have some things go their way in recent game, which included winning a doubleheader with walk-off wins in both games.
- James Wood may be one of a few players to see when the Washington Nationals come to town, but it is not just because he has prodigious power, his defense is strong, too.
- The Baltimore Orioles split their doubleheader with the Houston Astros thanks to two grand slams in the first game that allowed them to go for the sweep in the second game.
- Nick Kurtz of the Athletics has walked in 19 consecutive games, tying Ted Williams for the third longest streak in that category.
- Ildemaro Vargas extended his hit streak to 23 games in the Arizona Diamondbacks’ loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday.
