Aug 22, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; San Diego Padres beginning pitcher Dylan Stop (84) pitches towards the New York Mets throughout the first inning at Petco Park. Obligatory Credit score: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports activities After buying and selling lopsided victories, the Tampa Bay Rays and visiting San Diego Padres will face off within the rubber recreation of their three-game collection on Sunday.
San Diego gained the opener, 13-5, on Friday, and Tampa Bay bounced again with an 11-4 victory on Saturday.
And because the Padres look to carry on to a Nationwide League wild-card spot — and even problem the Los Angeles Dodgers for the West division title — they will not enter Sunday’s recreation feeling something however assured.
“It is say it is a fairly great place,” Padres supervisor Mike Shildt stated after Saturday’s loss, assessing his crew. “Performed loads of actually good baseball, firing on loads of cylinders. We’re by no means out of a recreation. … We win, we’ll preserve you down, and if we occur to be down, we will discover a method to scratch and claw and get on high.”
And whereas Saturday’s recreation did not end up within the Padres’ favor, they did not hand over, their supervisor stated.
“Take a look at that effort within the final 4 innings. That would’ve been an simply been a mail-it-in recreation, nevertheless it’s scary that this crew does nothing however foot on the pedal and gasoline out of the best way,” Shildt stated. “It was an amazing August, however will probably be a fair higher September.”
That would hinge on San Diego’s pitching.
The Padres (77-61) racked up 23 hits over the primary two video games of the collection towards the Rays. They gained some traction offensively late in Saturday’s loss, however pitching struggles resulted in a deficit that was too massive to beat.
In six of the previous eight video games, San Diego beginning pitchers lasted fewer than six innings on the mound. The Padres hope that right-hander Dylan Stop (12-10, 3.57 ERA) can present a top quality begin on Sunday. Stop gave up 4 earned runs on seven hits and 4 walks, whereas putting out 4 over 4 1/3 innings in a no-decision in a 7-5 win over St. Louis on Tuesday.
Stop is 1-2 throughout 5 profession begins towards the Rays. He has a 5.40 ERA, with 25 strikeouts and 16 walks over 23 1/3 innings.
As for the Rays, they’re hoping to construct off Saturday’s efficiency.
Each participant of their batting order safely reached base at the very least as soon as. Rookie Junior Caminero belted his first profession dwelling run at Tropicana Discipline, and his third up to now eight video games. The 21-year-old shortstop performed in seven video games in 2023 and was referred to as up on Aug. 13, and he seems to be with the Rays for the lengthy haul.
“He is the No. 1 prospect in baseball for a motive,” teammate Brandon Lowe stated. “The factor that will get me is the plate self-discipline, with how laborious he swings the bat. I feel he is high 5 or one thing like that, within the league, with bat velocity. To have the ability to take these swings as laborious as he can, but in addition not swing at all the things, he is very refined in his method and I feel that is one of many issues that helps him achieve these conditions.”
The Rays (67-68) are slated to begin right-hander Ryan Pepiot (7-6, 3.61). Pepiot gave up 5 runs, however solely two earned, in his most up-to-date begin towards the Seattle Mariners on Monday. He struck out six batters and issued one stroll over six innings however was tagged with the 5-1 loss.
Pepiot has two profession appearances towards the Padres — one begin — and is 0-1 with a 4.50 ERA. Over eight innings towards the Padres, Pepiot gave up 4 earned runs on 9 hits, with seven strikeouts and 4 walks.
–Discipline Stage Media