The Padres are coming up with creative ways to lose close games. Today they get to try not to lose a series. With the four-game series leaning the Brewers’ way at 2-1, the Padres need a win today to earn a tie. With the Brewers contending for the worst record in baseball, proponents of “Team Tank” might prefer for the Padres to just let this game go... but that’s not as much fun as a Padres win.
With scheduled starter Trevor Cahill on the DL with a shoulder strain, Jarred Cosart will be making his third start of the season, which will be his first MLB appearance in a month. Having yet to make it past four innings in any appearance this season, manager Andy Green may lean heavily on a bullpen that has several fresh arms due to excellent starts from Clayton Richard and Jhoulys Chacin plus the addition (again) of Kevin Quackenbush, who’s fresh off the El Paso Shuttle for the eleventeenth time this season. Cosart was a starting rotation candidate last spring, and a solid start from him today could stabilize his status with the team.
Cosart’s foe today is Zach Davies. Davies has consistently pitched into the sixth inning this season, but he’s struggled to keep the ball in the park. A fly ball pitcher in general, the spike in his HR/FB% has to be concerning to Brewers coaches, but it should be appetizing to the homer-heavy Padres lineup. On a warm, clear afternoon in San Diego, the ball could fly far and high, so bring your mitts if you’re seated in Souvenir City.
Today’s game concludes the four-game series with the Brewers, but the team stays in San Diego for a three-game series against the NL West division-leading Arizona Diamondbacks. For those on Team Tank, the losses against non-division opponents allow for fun wins against those within the division. Look for the Padres to play the spoiler once again come tomorrow night!
Start time: 12:40PM PDT
Radio: 94.9FM, 860AM (Español)
TV: Fox Sports San Diego, Fox Deportes San Diego
Online: MLB.TV