{"id":116211,"date":"2025-08-03T18:13:13","date_gmt":"2025-08-03T18:13:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/116211\/"},"modified":"2025-08-03T18:13:13","modified_gmt":"2025-08-03T18:13:13","slug":"streaking-luis-arraez-back-in-batting-title-hunt-san-diego-union-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/116211\/","title":{"rendered":"Streaking Luis Arraez back in batting title hunt \u2013 San Diego Union-Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"

Luis Arraez<\/strong> has some work to do if he\u2019s going to win a fourth straight batting title.<\/p>\n

Perhaps he\u2019s on his way.<\/p>\n

Arraez is riding a career-high 15-game hitting streak into Sunday\u2019s rubber match with the St. Louis Cardinals.<\/p>\n

First pitch is at 1:10 p.m.<\/p>\n

Arraez collected two hits in Saturday\u2019s loss, raising his batting average to .299. That\u2019s fourth in the NL behind Dodgers catcher Will Smith<\/strong> (.325), Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman<\/strong> (.302) and teammate Manny Machado<\/strong> (.301), who is hitting .500\/.537\/.763 during a nine-game hitting streak.<\/p>\n

Machado collected one in Saturday\u2019s loss, a single off the wall to drive in Arraez. Machado was thrown out trying to advance to second base.<\/p>\n

Arraez is hitting .411\/.450\/.518 while collecting hits in every game since the All-Star break.<\/p>\n

The Padres are 9-5 since then and 61-50 overall, just three games behind the Dodgers in the NL West. They\u2019ve also built a three-game cushion on the Reds (58-53) in the race for the NL\u2019s final wild-card spot and trail the No. 2 Phillies (62-48) by just 1\u00bd games.<\/p>\n

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Sunday matinee. pic.twitter.com\/gjTVcK2Quv<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Arraez will serve as the DH Sunday, giving newcomer Ryan O\u2019Hearn<\/strong> his first start at first base. Ram\u00f3n Laureano<\/strong> will remain in left field for a third straight game, meaning Gavin Sheets<\/strong> is on the bench a third straight game.<\/p>\n

Sheets also has not been used as a pinch-hitter since the trade deadline.<\/p>\n

Freddy Fermin<\/strong> is getting a second straight start behind the plate.<\/p>\n

Here is how the Cardinals (56-56) will line up for the series finale:<\/p>\n

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Going for the series win! pic.twitter.com\/X5bwf7AfjM<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 St. Louis Cardinals (@Cardinals) August 3, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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

Cardinals RHP Andre Pallante (6-7, 4.62 ERA)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The fourth-year starter is the only Cardinals rotation member who did not face the Padres in last week\u2019s four-game series in St. Louis. He\u2019s coming off seven shutout innings against the Marlins after posting a 9.77 ERA over his previous three starts. Pallante has a 2.70 ERA in 13\u2153 innings in his career against the Padres. He allowed two runs in 6\u2154 innings in two appearances last year.<\/p>\n

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

\"\"<\/p>\n

Padres RHP Dylan Cease (3-10, 4.79 ERA)<\/strong><\/p>\n

A grand slam chased him from his last start (4\u2154 IP, 5 ERA) after he took a comebacker off the back of his head. Imaging cleared Cease after the game. Cease has a 7.84 ERA in two starts (10 \u2153 IP) against the Cardinals, including four innings in 4\u2153 innings in a no-decision last year.<\/p>\n

Here is how Cease has fared against current Cardinals:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Originally Published: August 3, 2025 at 10:32 AM PDT<\/p>\n