San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt is trying to do it all in the last week of the regular season.
Not only is he trying to run down either the Chicago Cubs or Los Angeles Dodgers to earn homefield advantage for the first round of the National League playoffs next week, he’s also looking to rest starters and key relievers to keep them fresh for what the team hopes is a long October run.
A 7-0 win Tuesday night over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers, combined with Chicago and Los Angeles losses, gives San Diego a chance to put more pressure on the teams it’s chasing in Wednesday’s series finale.
The Padres (87-71) closed within 1 1/2 games of the Cubs for the top wild-card spot and 1 1/2 games of the Dodgers in the NL West. And they won Tuesday night in such a way that they didn’t have to employ any of the high-leverage arms in their bullpen.
What’s more, the likes of Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill and Jake Cronenworth got a day off. So did Fernando Tatis Jr., although missing a second straight game with an illness raises some concerns about his health going forward.
Still, the lineup and the result fit in with Shildt’s mission for the week.
“We’re going to be mindful about putting ourselves in the best position to be ready and really compete on Tuesday,” he said after clinching a playoff spot Monday night. “But also, you know, we want to be here and play on Tuesday as well.”
Right-hander Dylan Cease (8-12, 4.64 ERA) will take the ball for San Diego in what could be his last start for the team. The soon-to-be free agent is coming off a 4-3 loss Friday night at the Chicago White Sox, allowing four runs over six innings on four hits and three walks while striking out six. Cease is 1-1 with a 3.57 ERA in three career starts against Milwaukee.
The Brewers (95-63) made a late pitching change and are giving the nod to rookie right-hander Chad Patrick (3-8, 3.66) instead of expected starter Quinn Priester, who will now get an extra day’s rest and start on Friday against the Cincinnati Reds. Patrick last worked on Saturday, getting a no-decision in a 3-2 win over the St. Louis Cardinals in which he allowed two runs on five hits and no walks over 4 1/3 innings. The outing came after two straight relief appearances.
In his only career meeting with the Padres, Patrick was charged with the loss despite surrendering just one run on four hits in six innings in a 2-0 setback on June 6.
Milwaukee has lost four of its last five games but it remains 2 1/2 games ahead of Philadelphia for homefield advantage throughout the NL playoffs after the Phillies fell 6-5 in 11 innings to Miami.
The Brewers have played this series with one eye on performance and the other eye on getting ready for their October push. All-Star closer Trevor Megill and veteran starter Jose Quintana went through bullpen sessions before Tuesday night’s game, while Logan Henderson and DL Hall are working at the team’s camp in Arizona towards possible postseason usage.
Megill and Quintana appear to be good bets to be part of the NLDS roster. While this level of uncertainty doesn’t seem optimal for a team with high hopes, pitching coach Chris Hook isn’t daunted.
“When chaos is normal,” he said to mlb.com, “that’s an OK thing.”
–Field Level Media
