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Former Padre-Ranger-Padre again Tyson Ross will get another audition for the starting rotation (or bullpen) today against his former Texas team today in Surprise Stadium. Ross struck out 4 and surrendered 2 runs on 3 hits in his ST debut against the Athletics last Saturday. Tyson will get the chance to prove he deserves a spot on the roster in today’s game against a split-squad Rangers team sending out Bartolo Colón.
It’s @TysonRoss on the mound vs. Rangers at 12:05pm PT today! Here’s the full lineup: pic.twitter.com/ssVITDCBNW
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) March 1, 2018
Chase Headley will make an appearance at 3B after nursing a jammed finger on his throwing hand. The hot-hitting 3B Christian Villanueva will take the DH spot after going 1-3 with an RBI in a win against the Dodgers yesterday. Small sample size alert: Villanueva is hitting .455 in 11 at-bats this spring. Luis Urias will also get a start at second and has impressed so far in Spring Training. Wil Myers will take a turn in right field and Hunter Renfroe in left.
Several pitching debuts have also been rumored for today’s game: Cal Quantrill may find his way into today’s game alongside long-anticipated reliever Kazuhisa Makita. Andy Green has decided to mask the submarine pitcher against NL West rivals in something of a strategy play:
“With Makita being as unique as he is, we’ll definitely shield him from division rivals. He’s ready to pitch. He’s healthy and ready to pitch. I’m looking forward to watching him pitch more than anyone else more than anyone else, really. But we skipped the Dodgers with him. We want to make sure he doesn’t face the Dodgers, the Giants, the Diamondbacks and the Rockies. We probably won’t shield him from all National League teams, but we will shield him from National League West teams, the teams we play 19 times.”
In other pitching news, action will be taking place in the backfields: Luis Perdomo, Colin Rea, Robbie Erlin, and Brad Hand will participate in a B game to focus on pitching outside of regular game action.
Today’s game is a radio-only affair, so jump on MLB.com or your At-Bat app to listen in on the action.
Fun read of the day: Eric Hosmer took #30 from willing 3B coach Glenn Hoffman in order to honor former Royals teammate Yordano Ventura (#35 being retired for Randy Jones, of course). Hosmer repaid the gesture to Hoffman by giving the coach a Rolex watch as thanks.