{"id":177205,"date":"2025-08-26T14:14:12","date_gmt":"2025-08-26T14:14:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/177205\/"},"modified":"2025-08-26T14:14:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-26T14:14:12","slug":"rare-power-loss-tatis-has-left-the-yard-king-update-merrill-update-san-diego-union-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/177205\/","title":{"rendered":"Rare power, loss; Tatis has left the yard; King update; Merrill update \u2013 San Diego Union-Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"

Good morning from Seattle,<\/p>\n

Last night was the second time in the past six games the Padres have hit four home runs.<\/p>\n

They will win a lot of games if they continue to do that.<\/p>\n

Their 9-6 loss to Mariners last night was their first loss since 2021 in a game in which they hit four home runs.<\/p>\n

They had won the 14 games since then in which they homered four times, and they have won 43 of the 50 such games they have had since 2007.<\/p>\n

One problem for the 2025 Padres is that they have not had many games with even two home runs this season.<\/p>\n

Last night was just their 23rd game with multiple homers, fewest in the major leagues.<\/p>\n

Before hitting four home runs against the Giants on Wednesday, the Padres had hit more than three in one game this season, when they hit five at mile-high Coors Field.<\/p>\n

That is part of the reason why, even after getting five of their runs via homers last night, they rank last in the majors in percentage of runs (30.7%) driven in by home runs.<\/p>\n

(Another reason is that an MLB-high 66.7% of the Padres\u2019 home runs have come with no one on base.)<\/p>\n

The Padres say their lack of slug is not a huge concern. We have heard countless times about their \u201cPetco Park\u201d approach.<\/p>\n

The truth is, they have scored enough to win 74 games, more than all but six other teams. It would take a nearly historic collapse for them to not make the playoffs. But, as I have written several times, the ability to slug conistently is a hallmark of good teams. It is especially true of teams that go far in the postseason<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe know there\u2019s power on this team,\u201d Gavin Sheets said last night after hitting his 18th home run of the season. \u201cA little bit of it is playing to our ballpark. You can\u2019t go into Petco and try to hit home runs. \u2026 We\u2019re an offense that\u2019s built to our ballpark and has a really good, solid approach. We have plenty of power up and down this lineup, and we showed it tonight.\u201d<\/p>\n

My game story (here<\/a>) described the home run barrage and how the Mariners came back against JP Sears and piled on against David Morgan.\u00a0 The story also makes a tongue-in-check acknowledgment of the fact the Padres lost the inaugural Vedder Cup and touches on how it was not a great day for progress toward the playoffs.<\/p>\n

Yesterday was the first time since Aug. 17 that the Padres lost ground to all the teams around them in the playoff chase (the Dodgers, Cubs and Mets).<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Tatis drought ends<\/p>\n

The stutter step before he reached third base was smaller than usual.<\/p>\n

\u201cI probably forgot how to do it,\u201d Fernando Tatis Jr. said.<\/p>\n

It had been 32 days and 27 games and 132 plate appearances \u2014 all career highs \u2014 since Tatis had hit his last home run.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, it felt good,\u201d he said. \u201cSo hopefully I can do it again very soon.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tatis has not hit many homers \u201cvery soon\u201d since the middle of May.<\/p>\n

He had 12 home runs in his first 44 games (192 plate appearances) and has half that many in the 85 games (344 plate appearances) since.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Last night\u2019s blast over the center field wall traveled a projected 416 feet, the seventh longest of his 18 home runs this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s what I\u2019m capable of doing,\u201d he said. \u201cSo, you know, how can I stay consistent in that area is going to be the big factor.\u201d<\/p>\n

I have written at least 5,000 words on Tatis\u2019 sliding slug over the past couple months.<\/p>\n

Asked what it would mean for Tatis to get back to being some semblance of a power hitter, Padres manager Mike Shildt practically yelled, \u201cOh my gosh, that\u2019d be huge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Then Shildt caught himself and continued with his theme of appreciating that Tatis has a .412 on-base percentage over his past 49 games (since June 29).<\/p>\n

\u201cI love what he\u2019s doing,\u201d Shildt said. \u201cHis swing decisions have been elite. \u2026 He\u2019s really, been really, really disciplined with what he\u2019s swinging at. He\u2019s refusing to get out of the zone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

Make it three home runs in the second! pic.twitter.com\/yTqBJbM1ty<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 26, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

For starters<\/p>\n

The Padres need a starter for Sunday\u2019s game in Minneapolis.<\/p>\n

Sears allowing four runs (three earned) in 3\u2154 innings last night made it at least a question as to whether it will be him.<\/p>\n

Randy V\u00e1squez is an option to call up from Triple-A.<\/p>\n

It will not be Michael King.<\/p>\n

The plan is for King to pitch in another simulated game or make a minor-league rehab start\u00a0 before making his next major league start.<\/p>\n

When he does return, it won\u2019t have to involve a pitcher being sent down.<\/p>\n

Beginning next Monday, MLB teams are allowed to carry one additional pitcher and one additional position player, as rosters expand for the final month of the regular season.<\/p>\n

It seems likely the Padres will add a bullpen arm at some point in September. But they are considering going with six starters part of the time in order to give their top starters extra rest leading up to the postseason.<\/p>\n

King reported feeling good coming out of his three-inning, 44-pitch simulated game on Sunday. But the team wants him to build up further before returning.<\/p>\n

The right-hander made one start, throwing 57 pitches in two innings against the Red Sox on Aug. 9, after being sidelined for 2\u00bd months with a nerve impingement near his right (throwing) shoulder. He went back on the IL the day before his next scheduled start with left knee inflammation and had fluid drained from the knee.<\/p>\n

Merrill progress<\/p>\n

Center fielder Jackson Merrill is walking appreciably better.<\/p>\n

\u201cDefinitely,\u201d he said. \u201cThank God.\u201d<\/p>\n

Merrill has been lifting, though he has stayed away from some weight-bearing exercises in order to not aggravate his injured left ankle. He has yet to do any baseball activity.<\/p>\n

He is eligible to come off the IL on Saturday, and the team expects him to return during the series against the Twins.<\/p>\n

Just Jake<\/p>\n

If you have read the newsletter for any length of time, you have probably caught on to the fact I am fascinated by all the ways Jake Cronenworth frewuently gets on base.<\/p>\n

So here is the most randomly subjective stat I have maybe ever included in the Padres Daily, which is saying a lot.<\/p>\n

Last night, Cronenworth hit his 10th home run of the season, giving him at least that many in five consecutive seasons.<\/p>\n

He is one of 65 players to have accomplished that feat.<\/p>\n

If you take his lowest doubles and triples totals (both this season) he is one of 13 players with at least 10 homers, at least 16 doubles and at least one triple in each of the past five seasons.<\/p>\n

And if you add to the equation the fewest times he was hit by a pitch in one of the past five seasons (in 2021), he is the only MLB player with at least 10 homers, at least 16 doubles, at least one triple who was also hit by at least 10 pitches in each of the past five seasons.<\/p>\n

Tidbits<\/p>\n