I want to fend off the D-backs in Arizona – San Diego Union-Tribune

In the overall ranking

San Diego Padres (91-68, 2nd in NL West)

The Padres' two losses in Los Angeles earlier in the week cost them a great chance to win the division, but their magic number to secure the No. 4 seed is 2. The easiest way to do that is to get two to win in Arizona. A win will prevent Arizona from overtaking the Padres. Any combination of Padres wins and Mets losses that adds up to two will prevent the Mets from getting past the Padres.

Arizona Diamondbacks (88-71, 3rd in NL West)

The only way for the Diamondbacks to clinch a wild card spot is to sweep the Padres. Anything less than that could require help as they hold a one-game lead over the Braves entering the final weekend of the regular season and are virtually fighting with the Mets for the No. 5 seed. The Braves and Mets may have to play a doubleheader on Monday to secure the NL's final two playoff spots.

What have they been doing lately?

• San Diego: The Padres' 41 wins since the All-Star break remain the most in the majors, as they haven't lost more than two in a row in the second half. However, they have scored more than six runs just once in the last 10 games and have multiple batters in funk heading into the final week of the regular season. During OF Fernando Tatis Jr. has two home runs and an OPS of 1.054 in his last six games and SS Xander Bogaerts While he was productive during that span (.962 OPS), three key starters were under .700 last week: OF Jackson Merrill (.668), 3B Manny Machado (.619) and INF Luis Arraez (.217). However, Machado has one game with three goals at the end of the LA series.
• Arizona: The Diamondbacks' September ERA of 5.56 is the worst in the majors, but LHP AJ Puk has 43 strikeouts and a 0.35 ERA in 26 innings since reaching the trade deadline. 3B Eugenio Suárez has eight homers and 15 RBIs (1.033 OPS) this month while OFs Randal Grichuk (1,405 OPS) and Pavin Smith (1,130) have six each. Smith leads the team with 19 RBIs in September.

Clubhouse Manager

• OPS: Padres – OF Fernando Tatis Jr. (.851), OF Jurickson Profar (.845), OF Jackson Merrill (.821); D-Backs – 2B Ketel Marte (.934), DH Joc Pederson (.916), 1B Christian Walker (.805).
• Homer: Padres – 3B Manny Machado (29), Merrill (24), Profar (24); D-Backs – Marte (35), 3B Eugenio Suarez (29), Walker (26).
• RBIs: Padres – Machado (104), Merrill (89), Profar (85); D-Backs – Suarez (98), Marte (93), Walker (84).
• Steals: Padres – SS Ha-Seong Kim (22), Merrill (16), 2B Xander Bogaerts (13); D-Backs – OF Corbin Carroll (32), OF Jake McCarthy (25), SS Geraldo Perdomo (8), INF Kevin Newman (8).
• Stores: Padres – RHP Robert Suarez (35 of 41, 2.81 ERA), LHP Tanner Scott (22 of 24, 1.75 ERA); D-Backs – RHP Paul Sewald (16-for-20, 4.31 ERA), RHP Justin Martinez (8-for-10, 2.52 ERA).
• Holds: Padres – RHP Jason Adam (30, 1.99 ERA), RHP Jeremiah Estrada (15, 2.98 ERA), LHP Adrián Morejón (11, 2.86 ERA), LHP Wandy Peralta (11, 4.10 ERA); D-Backs – RHP Ryan Thompson (24, 3.36 ERA), RHP Kevin Ginkel (18, 3.29 ERA), LHP Joe Mantiply (16, 4.03 ERA).

Pitching matchups

Friday

• Padres RHP Yu Darvish (6-3, 3.18 ERA) | The 38-year-old veteran became the first Japanese-born pitcher to surpass 2,000 strikeouts in the majors in his final start. Darvish has a 3.15 ERA, 21 strikeouts and a .719 opponent OPS in four starts (20 IP) since coming off the injured list. He last faced the Diamondbacks last year and went 15-for-10 walks (15⅔ IP, 3.45 ERA) in three starts.
• D-Backs RHP Merrill Kelly (5-0, 3.71 ERA) | A calf cramp forced his final start, while Kelly only made 12 starts this year due to injuries. He is 9-3 with a 3.05 ERA in 15 career starts against the Padres, whom he faces for the first time this season. Kelly allowed seven runs in 10 ⅓ innings against San Diego last year.

Saturday

• Padres to be announced | LHP Martin Perez (5-5, 4.25 ERA) is currently the only rested option on the active roster. The veteran is 3-0 with a 2.61 ERA in nine starts since being acquired at the trade deadline. His strike rate had dropped from 11.4 per nine innings with the Pirates to 7.1 with the Padres. Pérez has only played against Arizona twice in his career (3.45 ERA, 10⅓ IP) and hasn't played with the Rangers since 2018.
• D-Backs LHP Eduardo Rodriguez (3-4, 5.56 ERA) | Given LHP's difficulties Jordan Montgomery (8-7, 6.23 ERA), the Diamondbacks will use Thursday's rest day to send their valuable free agent pick to the regular break. Not that Rodriguez has been good since his injury-impaired debut in August, as he's had just one good start so far, allowing five runs in 4 ⅔ innings in a loss on Monday. His only start ever against the Padres was a win in 2019 with the Red Sox (7 IP, 0 ER).

Sunday

• Padres to be announced | Whether RHP Michael King (13-9, 2.95 ERA) series finale likely depends on whether the Padres play for anything on Sunday. In that first full year as a starter, he got up to 173⅔ innings, including eight over 11 shutout innings in two starts against Arizona, both wins.
• RHP Brandon Pfaadt (10-10, 4.80 ERA) | The second-year starter has a 7.07 ERA in his last 11 starts, which includes allowing five runs in 2⅔ innings in a loss Tuesday to the Giants. Pfaadt is 0-2 with a 5.17 ERA, 15 strikeouts and just one walk in 15 ⅔ innings against the Padres this year. He has allowed three home runs in those starts.

Training room

• San Diego: SS Ha Seong Kim (Shoulder) is expected to face the team this weekend at Chase Field. Earlier in the week, he moved his rehab to the Peoria Sports Complex to continue trying to return this season.
• Arizona: RHP Ryne Nelson (Shoulder) was activated from the 15-day injured list on Thursday and figures to be factored into the Diamondbacks' pitching plans for this weekend. Former USD RHP Paul Sewald (Neck) remains unscheduled despite being promoted to the bullpen. Three pitchers are out this year: RHP Bryce Jarvis (elbow), RHP Drew Jameson (elbow) and LHP Kyle Nelson (Thoracic Outlet Surgery).

Originally published: September 27, 2024 at 7:20 am