Padres vs. Giants Recap: Manny Machado for MVP

The San Diego Padres swept their division rival San Francisco Giants in three games over the weekend with the help of Manny Machado.

Third baseman Manny Machado continued his MVP run in Sunday’s game, going 4-for-4 with three doubles and a triple. This performance brought his batting average up to .374 on the season. This average leads the entirety of the MLB. Boston Red Sox left fielder J.D. Martinez has the next-closest batting average, with a .349 so far this season.

The first two games were close, with the Padres only winning each contest by one run. However, the final game of the series was a 10-1 victory for the Padres. 

MacKenzie Gore rejoined the starting rotation after being demoted to the bullpen due to Blake Snell’s return. He pitched six innings and only gave up one run on three hits. He also had six strikeouts while giving up two walks. Gore now has a 3-1 record and a 2.06 ERA.

Much of the Padres lineup performed well and produced runs in this game. Unfortunately, first baseman Eric Hosmer only went 1-for-5 in the game. However, his batting average sits at a solid .319 on the season. 

Longtime Padre Wil Myers had the production that many fans have been seeking from him on a consistent basis.

Myers went 3-for-5 with a double and three RBI. His average is a respectable .250 on the season thus far.

Starting pitcher Mike Clevinger was placed on the injured list for the second time this season. Clevinger opened the season on the IL due to his Tommy John surgery from 2020. He has pitched well since his return, throwing for a 3.21 ERA in 14 innings. 

Pitcher Steven Wilson will be called back up to the Padres roster from Triple-A El Paso. He originally made the Padres Opening Day roster, but was sent down to the minors after he posted a 4.20 ERA in 15 relief innings. Wilson did not pitch for El Paso while he was there.

Other injured Padres players include outfielder Matt Beaty on the 10-day injured list. Padres star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. is still on the 60-day injured list. Pitchers on the 60-day IL include RHPs Pierce Johnson, Austin Adams and Michel Baez, along with LHPs Drew Pomeranz and Adrian Morejon. The timetable for all of these players range from a respected return in June to sometime midseason. 

Tatis Jr. is expected to return next month after receiving surgery on March 16 to repair a bone in his left wrist.

He has been going through a series of workouts at the Padres complex in Peoria, Arizona. At an extended distance, Tatis Jr. is only able to throw the ball and has a member of the Padres staff catch the ball for him.

Tatis Jr. will be eligible to come back from the IL in early June. However, the Padres will not let him come back until he can clearly swing a bat with no pain. He has been unable to swing a bat yet.

The Padres record currently sits at 27-14. They certainly separated themselves from the Giants after the series sweep against them in San Francisco. However, the Padres are 0.5 games behind the Dodgers. 

The Padres next series will be a home series against the Milwaukee Brewers, who have a solid 26-15 record and first place in the NL Central division.