Short-handed Padres vie for series sweep of Brewers
The San Diego Padres are on the brink of a series sweep against the National League Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers, despite grappling with significant injuries. The Padres have shown resilience and power, smashing nine homers in the first three games of the series. As they gear up for Sunday’s series finale at home, they hope to keep the momentum going.
Injury Challenges and Resilience
San Diego’s lineup has been hit hard by injuries, sidelining a third of their starters. Despite these setbacks, the Padres have thrived, showcasing their depth and adaptability.
“Winners find solutions,” said second baseman Jake Cronenworth, highlighting the team’s determination.
Recent Game Highlights
- The Padres have hit nine homers in the series, including three in Saturday’s 6-4 win.
- They are gunning for their fifth straight win, showcasing strong offensive performance.
Key Player Injuries
- Jurickson Profar: Left Friday’s game with a knee injury but hopes to return for the series finale. He is having a career-best season, hitting .320 with 10 homers and 48 RBIs.
- Fernando Tatis Jr.: Missed Saturday’s game due to an elbow injury from the series opener and has been battling a quad injury since April. His status remains uncertain.
- Luis Campusano: Placed on the 10-day injured list with a thumb injury.
Offensive Power Surge
The Padres’ power surge has been crucial, hitting 29 homers in their past 16 games. Rookie center fielder Jackson Merrill has been particularly impressive, with seven homers in the past 10 games.
Pitching Matchup
Michael King (Padres)
- Record: 5-4, 3.49 ERA
- Recent Performance: Received a no-decision on Tuesday against Philadelphia, allowing one run on six hits over 4 2/3 innings with three walks and six strikeouts.
- Career vs. Brewers: Tough-luck loser on April 17, allowing one run on two hits with 10 strikeouts in 7 2/3 innings.
Tobias Myers (Brewers)
- Record: 4-2, 3.26 ERA
- Recent Performance: Earned a win against the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday, pitching 6 1/3 scoreless innings with four hits, two walks, and six strikeouts.
- Career vs. Padres: This will be his first career outing against San Diego.
Brewers’ Pitching Struggles
Milwaukee’s starting pitchers have struggled to go deep into games, with no starter lasting longer than 5 1/3 innings in this series. This has put pressure on their bullpen, which has been tagged for eight runs over 11 1/3 innings.
“Our bullpen has been great all year,” manager Pat Murphy said. “Our pitching staff has won us a lot of games. This is not normal.”
Standout Performances
- Brice Turang (Brewers): Hit a grand slam in the ninth inning on Saturday, going 3-for-4 and raising his average to .296. He is 8-for-14 in the series.
Conclusion
Sunday’s series finale between the Padres and Brewers promises to be a compelling matchup. The Padres aim to continue their winning streak and sweep the series despite their injury woes. Key performances from pitchers Michael King and Tobias Myers, along with offensive contributions from players like Jurickson Profar and Brice Turang, will be crucial in determining the outcome.