Brewers at Padres
The Milwaukee Brewers are aiming to end a six-year playoff drought as they visit the San Diego Padres in Thursday's season opener. While the Brewers are looking to build on last year's 86-win season, San Diego is striving for respectability after signing free-agent first baseman Eric Hosmer.
Hosmer received a franchise-record eight-year, $144 million contract from the Padres, who went 71-91 in 2017 and have suffered through seven consecutive losing seasons. San Diego is expecting the former Kansas City Royals star to provide clubhouse leadership to a young team as well as team with 2016 All-Star Wil Myers to perk up the offense. The Brewers vastly improved their outfield by adding Lorenzo Cain (Hosmer's former Kansas City teammate) and Christian Yelich (from Miami). Former National League MVP Ryan Braun will play first base against left-handed pitchers despite publicly declaring two weeks ago that he is uncomfortable playing the position.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS Wisconsin (Milwaukee), FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Brewers RH Chase Anderson (2017: 12-4, 2.74 ERA) vs. Padres LH Clayton Richard (8-15, 4.79)
Anderson is coming off a career best for victories and had a solid .220 batting average against in 25 starts last season and manager Craig Counsell said he will be even better this season. "He's worked hard on developing his curveball and delivery, and added velocity in his delivery," Counsell told reporters. "He's a player that's worked hard to get better." Anderson is 3-1 with a 3.99 ERA in eight career starts versus the Padres and is 1-0 with a 4.91 ERA in three outings at Petco Park.
Richard is making his first Opening Day start at age 34 only 19-plus months after the Padres re-signed him at a time when he was throwing baseballs to a 15-and-16 year-old team in Lafayette, Ind., to keep his arm loose. "(This) was definitely out of my scope at the time," Richard told reporters about drawing the Opening Day assignment. "But I know it wouldn't have been a surprise. I've worked my whole career to be in this position. It hasn't taken me by surprise." Richard was shelled for six runs and 10 hits in six innings while taking the loss in his lone 2017 outing against the Brewers.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Padres haven't made the postseason since winning the NL West in 2006.
2. Milwaukee is opening on the road for the first time since 2011, when it began the season in Cincinnati.
3. San Diego RHP Dinelson Lamet, who was originally scheduled to start the second game of the season, was placed on the disabled list after suffering a flexor strain in his right elbow in his final spring start and the Padres haven't yet tabbed a replacement.