Padres at Braves
The San Diego Padres saw their five-game winning streak come to an end Sunday, but their bigger concern is about the health of their dynamic rookie shortstop. Fernando Tatis Jr. left in the 10th inning with a hamstring injury and could land on the injured list before the Padres open a four-game series against the host Atlanta Braves on Monday.
Eric Hosmer belted a three-run homer and utilityman Greg Garcia added a solo shot in Sunday’s 11-inning, 7-6 loss to Washington, which rallied from an early six-run deficit. Garcia started at second base in place of struggling veteran Ian Kinsler, who signed with the club during the offseason as a free agent but is batting .139 with four hits in his last 38 at-bats. The Braves snapped a three-game losing streak with Sunday’s 8-7 comeback win over Colorado behind two home runs from Ozzie Albies and a three-run blast by Josh Donaldson in the eighth. First baseman Freddie Freeman extended his season-opening streak of reaching base to 27 games with his second homer in as many days while Luke Jackson recorded the final two outs for his first save.
TV: 7:20 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, FS Southeast (Atlanta)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Nick Margevicius (2-2, 3.60 ERA) vs. Braves RH Mike Soroka (1-1, 1.69)
Margevicius earned his second career victory last Tuesday after holding Seattle to two runs over five innings. The 22-year-old rookie had made only one start above Single-A before tossing five innings of one-run ball against San Francisco in his major league debut on March 30. Margevicius has solidified his spot in the rotation by posting a 23-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio over his first five starts covering 25 innings.
Soroka threw a career-high 109 pitches in last Wednesday’s 3-1 win over Cincinnati, allowing one run with seven strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings. “Mike was really, really good,” manager Brian Snitker told reporters. “He had a really good breaking ball and a really, really good sinker. He was in the strike zone and attacking hitters with his stuff.” The 21-year-old rookie began the season with Triple-A Gwinnett after missing most of spring training due to right shoulder soreness.
WALK-OFFS
1. Jackson has made 12 scoreless appearances covering 13 innings since Opening Day.
2. Hosmer is 11-for-27 with three homers and eight RBIs over the past seven games.
3. Atlanta acquired LHP Jerry Blevins from Oakland for cash considerations and optioned RHP Wes Parsons to Triple-A Gwinnett.