San Diego Padres vs Oakland Athletics Picks and Predictions June 11th 2024

Manny Machado’s Return Boosts Padres in Pursuit of Series Victory Over A’s

The San Diego Padres’ star third baseman, Manny Machado, made a triumphant return to action after missing four starts due to a strained hip flexor. His comeback as the designated hitter was pivotal in San Diego’s 6-1 win over the visiting Oakland Athletics, setting the stage for the Padres to clinch the three-game series.

Manny Machado’s Swift Return

Machado sustained his injury last Wednesday while running out a grounder, which kept him out of the starting lineup. Despite this setback, he made a brief pinch-hitting appearance on Thursday before fully returning on Monday. Manager Mike Shildt had confidence in Machado’s quick recovery, which was validated by his immediate impact.

“We wouldn’t put him in there if he was overly compromised to run the bases,” Shildt said pregame on Monday. “He can clearly swing. He’s been taking batting practice. … We’ll get his volume up to be able to get him back in the field at third base.”

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Impact on the Padres’ Offense

Machado’s return bolstered the Padres’ offense, contributing to their total of 10 hits. Key highlights included solo home runs from Fernando Tatis Jr. and Jake Cronenworth. Tatis extended his hitting streak to a career-high 16 games with a homer off the right-center-field wall in the fifth inning.

Pitching Matchups for the Series

Randy Vasquez (1-3, 5.40 ERA) will take the mound for the Padres on Tuesday. Vasquez aims to build on his strong performance from his last start, where he pitched a career-high 6 2/3 innings, allowing six hits and three runs, with an impressive final 5 2/3 innings without surrendering a run. This game marks Vasquez’s first career start against Oakland.

The Athletics will counter with left-hander JP Sears (4-5, 3.93 ERA), who delivered a solid performance in his last outing despite a loss against the Seattle Mariners. Sears allowed just three hits and two runs over six innings, striking out eight. Like Vasquez, this will be Sears’ first time facing the Padres.

Challenges for the Athletics

Offensive struggles have been a significant issue for Oakland recently. Since a high-scoring win against Atlanta on June 1, the A’s have managed to score more than three runs only once in eight games, resulting in a 2-6 record during this stretch. They left 11 runners on base and went 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position in Monday’s game.

Manager Mark Kotsay noted the pressure on the team’s offense: “A little bit of pressing from our offense. The guys are kind of feeling that pressure, feeling that grind. At some point, they’re going to have to relax.”

Injury Updates

There is a silver lining for the Athletics, as reliever Lucas Erceg, a key bullpen component, is close to returning. He successfully completed a bullpen session on Sunday and could be activated later this week after being sidelined since May 26 with a strained right forearm.

The Padres’ solid form and Manny Machado’s timely return position them well to secure a series win over the Athletics. Meanwhile, Oakland will look to overcome their offensive challenges and seek better performances from their pitching staff.

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