{"id":62971,"date":"2026-08-08T22:30:18","date_gmt":"2026-08-08T22:30:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/62971\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T22:30:18","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T22:30:18","slug":"padres-pregame-ty-france-back-in-lineup-michael-king-starting-vs-astros","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/france\/62971\/","title":{"rendered":"Padres pregame: Ty France back in lineup, Michael King starting vs. Astros"},"content":{"rendered":"

After his first day out of the starting lineup since July 9, Ty France is back at first base and batting cleanup on Saturday against the Houston Astros.<\/p>\n

First pitch is at 4:15 p.m. (Padres.TV, KFMB 8.1\/CBS)<\/p>\n

Saturday afternoon baseball. pic.twitter.com\/TJ3BAESL5k<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

France (.864 OPS) struck out in two plate appearances off the bench on Friday, the first as a pinch-hitter with runners on first and second against Astros left-hander Steven Okert. He later struck out to end the eighth inning.<\/p>\n

France is hitting .367\/.402\/.644 with six homers in 24 games since returning from wrist\/hand soreness stemming from a hit by pitch.<\/p>\n

The Padres are in the midst of playing 16 straight games. Their next off-day is Thursday, ahead of the start of a six-game trip through Cleveland and New York.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s been playing quite a bit here lately, and we\u2019re in that big stretch of a lot of games without a day off,\u201d Padres manager Craig Stammen said. \u201cSo I think this week, this homestand, there\u2019ll be a few guys getting a day to catch a breath and then get back at it after that.\u201d<\/p>\n

All the regulars are in Saturday\u2019s lineup, with Gavin Sheets (.700 OPS) serving as the DH and in the seven-hole, Jake Cronenworth (.603 OPS) back at second base and in the two-hole and Luis Rengifo (.622 OPS) playing left field and batting ninth.<\/p>\n

Friday\u2019s loss dropped the Padres (60-57) two games behind the Diamondbacks (62-55) and Phillies (62-55) in the race for the N\u2019\u2019s final two wild-card spots. The fourth team in that race, the Cardinals (60-57), are 1\u00bd games behind the Padres, whose postseason odds at Fangraphs.com sit at 32%.<\/p>\n

Here is how Houston (60-57) will line up for Game 2:<\/p>\n

Let’s do it again.<\/p>\n

\u26be\ufe0f: 6:15 PM CT
\ud83d\udcfa: @SpaceCityHN<\/a>
\ud83c\udf99\ufe0f: @SportsTalk790<\/a> & 740 AM | Spanish: 102.9 HD2#ChaseTheFight<\/a> x @reliantenergy<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/mra1m63RCy<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Houston Astros (@astros) August 8, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Saturday\u2019s pitching matchup<\/p>\n

Astros RHP Peter Lambert (8-5, 3.06 ERA)<\/p>\n

The former Rocky is thriving after parts of four seasons in Colorado (6.28 ERA, 243 \u2154 IP). The 29-year-old Sam Dimas High product has a 2.10 ERA over his last six starts. Lambert has a 7.67 ERA in 27 innings against the Padres, but has not faced them since throwing 6 \u2154 innings (4.05 ERA) across four relief appearances in 2024.<\/p>\n

Here is how Lambert has fared against current Padres:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Padres RHP Michael King (6-8, 3.45 ERA)<\/p>\n

He has 3.18 ERA over his last six starts, but the Padres are 2-4 in those games. King allowed three runs on five hits and four walks in five innings in a loss on Monday in Arizona. He has a 2.74 ERA in 23 innings against the Astros. King last faced them in a start last year, allowing two runs in 5\u2154 innings.<\/p>\n

Here is how King has fared against current Astros:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

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