Despite a rough stretch for the San Diego Padres to begin the month of June, manager Craig Stammen is not in panic mode. His main objective is to get the lineup in the right frame of mind to produce better at the plate.
The team stats do not lie
The team has lost 12 of its last 16 games, as the lineup has been given multiple opportunities to win games, only to fail to get that key hit. Case in point, the Padres’ bats went 3-for-20 with runners in scoring position, as they stranded 13 on the basepaths in Wednesday’s extra-inning
loss to the Cincinnati Reds.
It is bleak times at Petco Park, as the team batting average is .214 with a .293 OBP during this current cold streak. The offense has scored 41 runs and averaged 2.6 runs per game, well below the season average of 3.7.
The disappointing numbers put the Friars near the bottom of the league’s offensive team categories.
Injuries expose lack of minor league options
Injuries to Jake Cronenworth and Ramon Laureano have derailed the attack, as the middle of the order has failed to deliver when the opportunity arose. Manny Machado is struggling through the worst offensive stretch of his 15-year career. The future Hall of Famer is hitting .172, with the lone saving grace being his 34 RBI, which lead the team.
The Friars cannot afford to wait much longer and hope the bats come alive. Patience is running thin in the Gaslamp Quarter.
The trade deadline might be the furthest thing from team president of baseball operations and general manager A.J. Preller’s mind at the moment. No team is looking to make a deal this early in the season, as the deadline is set for Aug. 3. But internal discussions have to begin on whether it is feasible to acquire a proven bat.
Unfortunately, there is no immediate help on the way via the minor leagues. In past trade deadlines, Preller used the farm system depth to acquire talent.
The Padres have only one prospect in the top 50 MLB prospect list. Ethan Salas is No. 5 on the list, as the 20-year-old has returned with a vengeance after missing the majority of the 2025 season. Salas is hitting .298/.361/.486, as his confidence level is growing with each plate appearance.
Bowen and Taylor provide much-needed spark
One series win does not solve a problem, but the combination of small ball with timely home runs is worth its weight in gold. The Friars had no choice but to turn to Jase Bowen and Samad Taylor, and they have filled a void that was missing in the lineup. The bats have shown flashes of improvement, but more work remains.
The good news is the Padres remain box-office gold, as they play to sold-out crowds at Petco Park on most nights. The lineup gives the Friar Faithful just enough hope to believe they’re a postseason contender.
June is a telling month of how the remainder of the season will go. If the offense continues to struggle to score runs, it might be time to trade some veterans to restock the farm system.
However, upper management has no plans to move anyone off the roster just yet.
