Back home to tame the rising Tigers – San Diego Union-Tribune

In the rankings

Detroit Tigers (70-68, 4th in AL Central)

The Tigers are 23-18 since the All-Star break and five games out of the AL’s final wild-card spot as they arrive at Petco Park looking for at least their first winning season since 2016 (86-75). They rank 28th in on-base percentage but eighth in ERA (3.78) and 10th in bullpen ERA (3.81 ERA). Detroit’s plus-17 run differential also ranks 16th in the game. The Padres took two of three in Detroit last year.

San Diego Padres (76-60, 3rd in NL West)

The Padres went 4-3 on the road trip and are still virtually tied with the Diamondbacks for the NL’s top wild-card spot, three games behind the Dodgers in the division. They are three games ahead of the Braves, the NL’s current third wild-card team, and four games ahead of the Mets, who are currently sidelined. The Padres’ plus-67 run differential is 10th best in the majors.

What have they been up to lately?

• Detroit: The Tigers are 10-4 in their last 14 games with a 2.93 ERA in that span, third-lowest in baseball. Detroit also has an OPS of .742 in that span, good for ninth. Road to the plate in that span: 1B Spencer Torkelson (4 HR’s, .897 OPS), OF Kerry Timmerman (3 HRs, .908 OPS) and OF Parker Weiden (1 hour, .910 OPS).
• San Diego: The Padres have a 4.58 ERA and are 8-7 in their last 15 games. Their hitters in that span have an OPS of .727, with 3B Manny Machado (.962 OPS) hit a team-high five home runs in that span and OF Jackson Merrill (.845 OPS) adding four. Both OF Jurickson Profar (.634) and 2B Xander Bogaerts (.626 OPS) are below .700 over the last 15 days.

Clubhouse leaders

• METHOD: Tigers – Outfielder Riley Greene (.829), outfielder Matt Vierling (.742), 2B Colt Keith (.694); Padres – Outfielder Jurickson Profar (.841), outfielder Jackson Merrill (.813), 3B Manny Machado (.789).
• Homer: Tigers – Greene (20), Vierling (15), OF Kerry Carpenter (14); Padres – Machado (23), Merrill (21), Profar (21).
• RBI’s: Tigers – Greene (58), Keith (52), Vierling (50); Padres – Machado (83), Profar (81), Merrill (79).
• Steals: Tigers – INF Zack McKinstry (14), OF Parker Meadows (9), OF Wenceel Pérez (9); Padres – SS Ha-Seong Kim (22), Merrill (16), 2B Xander Bogaerts (10).
• Save: Tigers – RHP Jason Foley (20-for-23, 3.10 ERA), LHP Tyler Holton (6-for-6, 2.44 ERA); Padres – RHP Robert Suarez (30-for-33, 2.00 ERA); LHP Tanner Scott (20-for-22, 1.51 ERA)
• Appearances: Tigers – RHP Will Vest (59, 3.05), Foley (56), Holton (54); Padres – RHP Jason Adam (61, 2.07 ERA), LHP Yuki Matsui (59, 3.38 ERA), Scott (59).

Pitch competitions

Monday

• Tigers not yet known | Manager of Detroit AJ Hinch has not yet announced a starter, but it could be an opener for RHP Kenta Maeda (3-6, 6.14 ERA), who will get four days of rest after allowing two unearned runs in 4⅓ innings of bulk relief on Aug. 28. Maeda has a 3.97 ERA in 34 innings in relief this year.
• Padres RHP Joe Musgrove (4-4, ERA 4.44) | He has a 1.66 ERA in four starts since returning from elbow problems, with 19 strikeouts against four walks in 21⅔ innings. Musgrove threw 94 pitches in his last start and has made two straight strong starts.

Tuesday: Out

Wednesday

• RHP Keider Montero of the Tigers (4-6, ERA 5.17) | The 24-year-old rookie has allowed 13 homers and a 1.35 WHIP in his first 69⅔ innings in the majors. He’s averaging 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Montero has three quality starts in 13 appearances, but hasn’t gotten past fifth in any of his last four starts (4.05 ERA).
• To be announced | This is the place for Padres RHP Michael King (11-8, 3.05 ERA), but Yu Darvish could return to the rotation during this series. The Padres are also monitoring the King’s workload (150 ⅔ IP), so the order could change completely.

Thursday

• RHP Casey Mize of the Tigers (2-6, 4.36 ERA) | He is making his 18th start after losing most of 2022 and all of 2023 to Tommy John surgery. The 2018 No. 1 overall pick has gone six innings and one start (6 IP, 4 ER) in his return from a hamstring injury.
• To be announced | If Darvish doesn’t return to the Padres LHP rotation Martin Perez (4-5, 4.71 ERA) will likely pitch the final.

Training room

• Detroit: RHP Reese Olson (shoulder) threw live batting practice Saturday in his bid to return this year. The Tigers also have OF Wenceslas Perez (oblique) on the list of short-term injured, while INF Javier Baez (hip surgery) and RHP Alex Faedo (shoulder) are among the players who will not return this season.
• San Diego: RHP Yu Darvish (groin, elbow) threw four controlled innings Friday at Arizona and could return from the injured list this week. OR Fernando Tatis jr. (quad) also pushes for a return in early September, while SS Ha Seong Kim (shoulder) hits and throws, but has not yet thrown across the field.

Originally published: September 2, 2024 at 9:00 am