{"id":52651,"date":"2025-07-09T23:48:12","date_gmt":"2025-07-09T23:48:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/52651\/"},"modified":"2025-07-09T23:48:12","modified_gmt":"2025-07-09T23:48:12","slug":"looking-for-consecutive-wins-a-rarity-of-late-san-diego-union-tribune","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/52651\/","title":{"rendered":"Looking for consecutive wins, a rarity of late \u2013 San Diego Union-Tribune"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Padres have not won two games in a row since taking the last two games of the Nationals series at Petco Park (June 24-25). They\u2019ve also lost two in a row just once since then (June 29-30) in the kind of wheel-spinning that\u2019s both kept them afloat in the NL wild-card picture and barred them from truly taking advantage of an opportunity in the NL West.<\/p>\n

The Padres have another prime opportunity in Wednesday\u2019s 6:40 p.m. start on Padres.TV.<\/p>\n

The Dodgers lost their sixth straight game this afternoon, pulling the Padres to within 5\u00bd games in the division. The Padres are a half-game out of the final wild-card spot, but the Giants have also already lost on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

Tuesday\u2019s win pushed the Padres (49-42) 4\u00bd games ahead of the Diamondbacks (45-47) in a key divisional series ahead of next week\u2019s All-Star break.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery series has ramifications,\u201d Padres manager Mike Shildt<\/strong> said. \u201cWe expect to go out and play good baseball. \u2026 We\u2019re always looking to win series. Just got coming off winning a series (against the Rangers). It was a big series in the moment and that\u2019s the thing. I\u2019ve had guys in the past say, you know, \u2018Today\u2019s the biggest game of the year, boys.\u2019 And it\u2019s really true.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause the more you take care of business on a daily basis, the more you get to where you go.\u201d<\/p>\n

For Game 3 against the Diamondbacks, four-hole hitter Gavin Sheets<\/strong> will serve as the DH, pushing switch-hitter Bryce Johnson<\/strong> into left field and in the eight-hole.<\/p>\n

\n

Mid-week matchup. pic.twitter.com\/FlJbbEeQ3J<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Johnson is hitting .313\/.389\/.375 with one double, two steals and two runs scored in 15 games.<\/p>\n

This will be Johnson\u2019s first start since June 30, when he went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts. He doesn\u2019t have a hit since going 1-for-3 on June 25 against the Nationals.<\/p>\n

Jackson Merrill<\/strong> will remain in the five-hole, between Sheets and shortstop Xander Bogaerts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Mart\u00edn Maldonado<\/strong> will start Wednesday behind the plate and bat ninth.<\/p>\n

Here is how the Diamondbacks will line up:<\/p>\n

\n

WedneSDay Night Baseball.<\/p>\n

Get https:\/\/t.co\/epBmrbYHsx<\/a> for only $27.99 until Sunday! pic.twitter.com\/3Ujlx0ByvE<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Arizona Diamondbacks (@Dbacks) July 9, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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

D-backs RHP Brandon Pfaadt (8-6, 5.42 ERA)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The third-year starter has an 8.69 ERA over his last seven starts. Pfaadt has a 3.48 ERA in six starts against the Padres, but this is his first this season. He has been better on the road (4.27 ERA) than he has at home (6.60 ERA) this season.<\/p>\n

Here is how current Padres have fared against Pfaadt:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Padres RHP Dylan Cease (3-8, 4.62 ERA)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Padres have split his 18 starts so far this season and he has just two quality starts since May 25 (4.78 ERA). Cease is facing the Diamondbacks for the first time this season. He had a 2.63 ERA, 16 strikeouts and an 0.66 WHIP in two starts (13 \u2154 IP) last year against Arizona.<\/p>\n

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

\"\"<\/p>\n

\t\t\t