Apr 7, 2025; West Sacramento, California, USA; San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) rounds the bases after hitting a house run in opposition to the Athletics through the sixth inning at Sutter Well being Park. Obligatory Credit score: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Photos
The San Diego Padres have been down three on a regular basis gamers for his or her collection finale in opposition to the Athletics on Wednesday.
Nonetheless, their lockdown bullpen was intact, permitting them to earn a 2-1 win with a patchwork lineup and take a collection to return house with the foremost leagues’ greatest document at 10-3.
San Diego begins a six-game homestand Friday evening with a recreation in opposition to the Colorado Rockies, hoping to get Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jake Cronenworth again within the lineup. But when the Padres need to play with out one or each once more, they are often safe figuring out their reduction corps just isn’t solely rested however extremely efficient.
The frontline guys out of the San Diego bullpen — Adrian Morejon, Jeremiah Estrada, Jason Adam and Robert Suarez — closed out all three wins on the just-concluded 3-3 street journey. They allowed only one hit in 4 scoreless innings on Wednesday, decreasing the bullpen’s ERA to a big-league-best 1.65.
“This bullpen, it simply looks like again to the nice outdated days once you and your homies are simply on the market enjoying baseball on the identical group and also you’re all wanting one of the best for one another,” Estrada mentioned.
Nonetheless, it would not harm the Padres’ emotions one bit if Tatis (sore shoulder) and Cronenworth (aspect contusion) have been in a position to return. Each have been harm Tuesday evening in a 10-4 loss to the A’s, and the group performed with what amounted to a two-man bench on Wednesday.
With All-Star heart fielder Jackson Merrill (hamstring) on the injured checklist for an additional week, San Diego’s depth is being examined. One other concern may be beginning pitching, notably the again finish of the rotation after final weekend.
Padres right-hander Nick Pivetta (1-1, 2.70 ERA) will attempt to rebound from a poor begin Saturday in a 7-1 loss on the Chicago Cubs. He lasted solely three innings, permitting six hits and three runs with three walks and 4 strikeouts. Pivetta has been hammered in 5 profession appearances (4 begins) in opposition to Colorado, dropping all 5 whereas compiling a 15.51 ERA.
Whereas the Padres have began the season properly, the identical cannot be mentioned for the Rockies. Regardless of a 7-2 win Thursday over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers, Colorado has already discovered its accustomed place within the NL West cellar at 3-9.
A five-run eighth inning Thursday constituted a uncommon offensive explosion for a group that will get to play half its video games a mile above sea degree. Colorado is averaging simply 3.3 runs per recreation and is not compensating with pitching, permitting opponents to hit a major-league-worst .290.
Brenton Doyle led the cost Thursday with a homer and a three-run double, ending with three hits and 5 RBIs.
“That was an enormous momentum shift for us,” Doyle mentioned. “We wish to construct on it.”
Colorado’s German Marquez (0-1, 2.45 ERA) will get the ball to start out the weekend collection. The fitting-hander final labored on Saturday in a 7-4 loss in opposition to the Athletics, permitting 5 hits and 4 runs, three earned, in five-plus innings. Marquez walked six and fanned three.
In 18 profession outings, 16 of them begins, in opposition to San Diego, Marquez is 10-3 with a 4.38 ERA.
The Rockies gained eight of 13 conferences between the groups final yr, going 4-2 in San Diego.
–Discipline Stage Media
