Diamondbacks at Padres
The San Diego Padres turn to emerging ace Chris Paddack to help get them untracked on Monday, when they begin a three-game series against the visiting Arizona Diamondbacks. San Diego raised expectations with a promising 11-5 start but has lost three contests in a row and seven of its last nine.
Hunter Renfroe belted a three-run homer in Sunday’s 6-4 loss to Pittsburgh, but that was one of the few bright spots for a Padres team that is 7-12 without rookie star Fernando Tatis Jr. “You run through these times,” San Diego outfielder Wil Myers told reporters. “We have a really good team that’s going to come back and respond again.” Arizona lost two of three to San Francisco over the weekend and was held to three hits in Sunday’s 10-inning, 3-2 setback. The Diamondbacks are beginning a 10-game road trip after watching three hitters at the top of the order – Adam Jones, Ketel Marte and Eduardo Escobar – finish a combined 0-for-15 with three strikeouts in Sunday’s loss.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FS Arizona, FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Diamondbacks RH Luke Weaver (3-2, 3.16 ERA) vs. Padres RH Chris Paddack (3-2, 1.99)
Weaver has recorded three straight quality starts, going 1-1 with a 2.25 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 20 innings. The 25-year-old Floridian has gone 3-0 with a 0.98 ERA over 18 1/3 frames in his last three turns on the road. Manny Machado is 3-for-6 with two homers against Weaver, who is 2-2 with a 2.28 ERA in four career starts versus San Diego.
Paddack posted a 1.55 ERA over his first seven major-league starts before running into trouble against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday, when he gave up six runs - three earned - in 4 2/3 innings. “He wasn’t nearly as sharp as he has been,” Padres manager Andy Green told reporters. “It happens. He wasn’t going to get through the year unscathed.” The 23-year-old rookie owns a stellar 49-to-11 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 45 1/3 frames in his first eight starts.
WALK-OFFS
1. Diamondbacks OF David Peralta has gone 13-for-26 in seven games against the Padres this season.
2. San Diego activated Trey Wingenter (shoulder) from the 10-day injured list and recalled fellow RHP Cal Quantrill from Triple-A El Paso while optioning RHP Gerardo Reyes to the Chihuahuas and LHP Nick Margevicius to Double-A Amarillo.
3. Arizona INF Wilmer Flores left Sunday’s game with a right foot contusion and is listed as day-to-day.