Padres at Marlins
The San Diego Padres were trending upward at the All-Star break but have lost four in a row since and fallen four games under .500 for the first time this season. With their wild-card hopes hanging in the balance, the Padres look to get untracked Wednesday as they continue their three-game series against the host Miami Marlins.
The Padres were swept at home by Atlanta before starting a critical six-game road trip Tuesday against Miami, which scored seven runs in the first inning and held on for a 12-7 victory. Brian Anderson and Garrett Cooper homered while Harold Ramirez and Starlin Castro combined to drive in five runs as the Marlins improved to 25-26 since May 17. Franmil Reyes hit his 26th homer for San Diego, but Eric Hosmer went 1-for-5 to give him seven hits in 48 at-bats this month. One bright spot has been the development of Manuel Margot, who went 2-for-4 with a blast in Tuesday’s loss and has emerged as manager Andy Green's preferred option in center field over slumping veteran Wil Myers.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Chris Paddack (5-4, 2.84 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Trevor Richards (3-10, 4.18)
Paddack struck out six batters over 5 2/3 scoreless innings in a no-decision against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday. The 23-year-old rookie is looking forward to facing Miami, which drafted him in 2015 before dealing him to San Diego a year later for reliever Fernando Rodney. “I’m excited," Paddack told reporters. “There will definitely be a little more adrenaline just with the mindset that this is the team that drafted me and then got rid of me.”
Richards lost his fifth straight decision on July 7, when he allowed four runs on six hits with five walks over five innings against Atlanta. The 26-year-old native of Illinois has posted a troubling 19-to-12 strikeout-to-walk ratio over 20 2/3 frames in his last four outings. Richards pitched well in his only previous start against San Diego, allowing one hit over five scoreless innings in a 9-3 victory at Petco Park on June 2.
WALK-OFFS
1. Castro has gone 18-for-43 during his 10-game hitting streak.
2. San Diego activated Austin Hedges from the bereavement list and optioned fellow C Austin Allen to Triple-A El Paso.
3. Miami activated Tayron Guerrero (blister) and placed fellow RHP Austin Brice on the 10-day injured list with a right forearm flexor strain.