The San Diego Padres have won their first two games of the season, beating the Atlanta Braves despite their starting pitchers being less than efficient and taxing the bullpen early on. What has been considered a strength from last season to this season, the bullpen looks in mid-season form. In two games, the bullpen has covered 10.2 innings without allowing a run. This has allowed the Padres to come back from a deficit or a tie to win those games.
Manager Mike Shildt likes to call his team the “Grit Squad “ in these situations and his post-game presser the past two games has continued that tradition from last season.
The star power has been on full display with Fernando Tatis Jr. backing up the claim he made at FanFest in February. His assertion that, when healthy and his head is right, he is the best player in baseball.
So far he has hit, stolen bases, danced around on the base paths and played solid defense. His energy and passion is unmistakable in any spot in the lineup but batting leadoff gives everyone a chance for more RBI, including Luis Arraez. Arraez was the leadoff hitter for most of last season after being acquired from Miami. He would be effective anywhere in the top of the order but with Tatis Jr. on ahead of him, he has more opportunities to drive in runs with his ability to spray hits all over the field.
DH/1B Gavin Sheets has shown that what he did during the spring is not a fluke. He is making solid contact, even when making an out. His opening day home run was a thing of beauty, clearing the center field wall easily.
In the second game of the series, Jake Cronenworth had the opportunity to put the team ahead when he came up in the eighth inning with the score tied. The Braves reliever was left hander Derek Lee, the same pitcher who allowed the winning run the previous day. Historically, Cronenworth is less effective versus lefties with a .215 average the last two seasons. It has been said by many outside the organization that a platoon would work better with Cronenworth, especially in high leverage situations.
During spring training, Padres hitting coach Victor Rodriquez stated that Cronenworth needed to stop thinking about his power swing and just stay short to the ball, concentrate on his contact ability. He felt confident the power would be there with that approach. Friday’s game showed what Cronenworth is able to do when he focuses on contact. His power will probably still be mostly to the pull side, but his home run won the game and he is historically good at that (remember 2022 playoffs).
Manager Mike Shildt said about Cronenworth after the game he had “good at-bats against lefties in spring training. Just like overall where he’s at. Doesn’t try to do too much. Just puts a nice, good stroke on it.”
The last roster spot was given to left-handed pitcher Omar Cruz with reliever Logan Gillaspie sent from San Diego to El Paso on Wednesday morning. Gillaspie made the trip from Arizona with the team but ended up packing up his locker on Wednesday. Cruz had previously been optioned from major league camp to minor league camp and had driven to El Paso from Peoria so it was a surprise to see him awarded the final spot.
We have yet to see Cruz pitch in a game but he is the Padres #20 prospect with 2025 as his expected arrival date. He has been in the system since 2017, when he signed as an international prospect. Traded to the Pirates in the Joe Musgrove trade, he was reacquired when the Pirates didn’t protect him in the Rule 5 draft in 2023. He can serve as long relief with a fastball, curveball and above-average changeup. His performance in spring training featured his ability to strike out hitters as well as get weak contact with his change up.
Thursday’s final roster put both utility man Tyler Wade and IF/OF Eguy Rosario on the designated for assignment list. The team has until next Thursday to make a trade or both will be on waivers for another team to claim. The signing of Jose Iglesias and the arrival of Sheets and his platoon-mate, Yuli Gurriel, forced the organization to make difficult decisions. Wade is a gifted and versatile defensive player but a light hitter. Rosario is able to play multiple infield and outfield spots but is weak against right handed pitching.
Centerfielder Jackson Merrill had four RBI on Opening Day and followed that with a 3-for-4 game yesterday. Nice start to his sophomore season.
Closer Robert Suarez is throwing a lot more off-speed pitches in his two successful appearances. He is throwing and getting more strikes with his changeup to go with his devastating fastball/sinker combination.
Right hander Randy Vasquez starts in the nationally-televised third game of the series versus the Braves on Fox at 4:15 pm Saturday. With the bullpen already covering over 10 innings, it’s almost guaranteed we will see Cruz at some point during the game unless the Padres make a roster move.