:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/63695869/usa_today_12613688.0.jpg)
Tatis looms large
With Fernando Tatis Jr. missing time with a hamstring injury, the San Diego Padres decided to leave Manny Machado at 3B (and Ty France on the bench), opting instead to go with Greg Garcia at SS and Ian Kinsler at 2B.
Kinsler finished the game 0-3 (he’s now hitting .134) and Greg Garcia....well....
Textbook bunt.#ChopOn pic.twitter.com/AVpMFRyc3U
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 30, 2019
The Padres finished the game with Garcia at 2B, Manny at SS, and France at 3B. Manny showed why that’s probably the best alignment:
El Ministro de Defensa does it again #FriarFaithful pic.twitter.com/H2iyHQUy1b
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 30, 2019
We’ll see what they go with in tomorrow’s game.
Good pitching beats good hitting
Hard to win a game if you only score one run, and the Atlanta Braves got plenty of good pitching in this one to get themselves out of just about every jam they found themselves in.
Two on, nobody out?
— Atlanta Braves (@Braves) April 30, 2019
"No problem" says @Mike_Soroka28.#ChopOn pic.twitter.com/1HeWpr7yY4
Mike Soroka left after 6 innings, striking out 8 Padres and giving up just one run.
About that “good hitting”
3 of the 8 position players that started for the Padres tonight are currently hitting .205 or worse. Manny Machado is down to .235. Manny Margot leads the pack at .263 and there’s nobody particularly close to him.
Fernando Tatis Jr. wasn’t just having a stellar start to his career, he was all but carrying this offense since Wil Myers cooled off. Without him, the Padres will need somebody else to step up and do some damage.