Jeff Sanders

1 week ago | sandiegouniontribune.com | Jeff Sanders

The Padres have not been swept in a four-game set since 2017 in Atlanta. They’ve already lost five of six to start this road trip through the NL West. They’ve lost 10 and 17 to start June and are suddenly six games out of first in the division and tied for the last wild-card spot in the NL. Asked late Wednesday night about the urgency to escape Los Angeles with at least one win, Padres manager Mike Shildt replied the only way he knows how:“I understand the question completely,” Shildt said.

1 week ago | sandiegouniontribune.com | Jeff Sanders

Double-A San Antonio has its sights set on a first-half title. Braden Nett tied a career-high with 10 strikeouts over 5⅔ shutout innings and Brandon Valenzuela’s walk-off single sent the Missions to a 1-0 win over Frisco and a half-game ahead of the RoughRiders in the Texas League South. Four games remain in the first half. Nett (3.58 ERA) scattered six hits and two walks in the start.

1 week ago | sandiegouniontribune.com | Jeff Sanders

With Jackson Merrill on the concussion list, the Padres will have a different face in center field for the third time in four days. Bryce Johnson will get the start for Wednesday’s 7:10 p.m. first pitch on Padres.TV and bat ninth a day after singling off the bench is his official return to the team. The switch-hitting Johnson hit .206/.286/.238 across 47 games with the Padres last year as an injury fill-in.

1 week ago | sandiegouniontribune.com | Jeff Sanders

Each start has been a step forward for Luis Patiño. The 25-year-old right-hander allowed just one hit over four shutout innings on Tuesday in Double-A San Antonio’s 4-2 win over visiting Frisco. Patiño struck out six, walked two and threw 40 of his 63 pitches for strikes. Patiño is building up following the Tommy John surgery that wiped out his entire 2024 season. He was nontendered after the season, elected free agency and returned to the Padres on a minor league deal.

1 week ago | sandiegouniontribune.com | Jeff Sanders

LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers needed seven pitchers to get through Monday’s 6-3 loss, but the last four they employed — Alex Vesia, Michael Kopech, Tanner Scott and Kirby Yates — all got through their appearances in 11 pitchers or fewer. While that’s two straight games for Vesia, Scott and Yates, that figures to put the Dodgers’ bullpen in better-than-decent shape as Dave Roberts lines up another bullpen game for Tuesday’s 7:10 p.m. start on Padres.TV.