SAN DIEGO - A sigh of relief for the San Diego Padres and their fans as their shortstop, Xander Bogaerts, was named to Saturday’s starting lineup after leaving yesterday’s game during the bottom of the 10th inning due to cramping in his right leg.
Padres manager Mike Shildt noted during yesterday’s postgame that he doesn’t believe the injury wasn't hamstring related but said it was a “pretty nasty cramp.” Bogaerts had a similar incident happen to him during the end of the series against the Reds on June 29, where he left the game during the ninth inning.
“Similar to Cincinnati, different place, different leg but similar feeling, cramped up, knotted up,” Shildt said before the game. “He’s doing everything he can (from) a hydration standpoint. We've had some tough travel days and some scheduling and maybe just caught up with him.”
With the injury happening more frequently, the Padres’ medical staff did a “proverbial deep-dive” to figure out if the cramping involved anything muscular.
“He recovered really well last night,” Shildt said. “And then he slept on it. He went back and forth this morning and everybody agreed he was good to go… We’ll clearly continue to monitor it, but he’s ready to go.”
Battling through injuries and a batting slump for most of the season, Bogaerts has been on quite a tear as of recently. In the last 17 games (since June 15), Bogaerts is batting .338 (22-for-65) with 10 of them counting for extra bases, which is tied for the fourth most XBH among National League players during this span.
Also during his stretch, he has raised his average by 22 points from a .232 through the first 68 games to .255 entering tonight’s game. The righty has recorded eight, three or more hit games this season with half of them coming from the past 13 games.
Yu Darvish's possible return to the rotation
Shildt on Saturday also told the media that right-handed starting pitcher Yu Darvish is “very close” to returning to the Padres starting rotation.
As the team looks to pin a name to Sunday’s starting pitcher, it is confirmed by Shildt that Darvish will not be one of the names in consideration. The team will announce tomorrow what his plans will be as far as when he will take the mound and/or if he needs another simulated game.
However, Darvish did throw a bullpen today at Petco Park before Saturday’s game.
“He’s getting close to coming to a stadium very near you,” Shildt said.
The four-time all star, who was originally placed on the injured list back in late March after sustaining right elbow inflammation, has not pitched a game for the Friars this season. Darvish has pitched two games during Spring Training, throwing for 2 ⅔ in the first game and four innings in his last appearance.
Darvish’s last meaningful start took place during the NL Divisional Series on Oct. 11 against the Dodgers where he tossed 6 ⅔ innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits with four strikeouts.
The Osaka native was placed on the 60-day injured list on June 16, even though he has yet to suit up in the Brown and Gold this season. He has made an appearance for the Chihuahuas in El Paso back in May, and more recently, has pitched a couple of simulated games up north in Lake Elsinore.
During his last time facing batters in this type of setting, Darvish threw for 64 pitches through four innings.
With the Padres recently optioned Matt Waldron to Triple A El Paso and the team still waiting on their ace, Michael King, to return from a pinched nerve in his right shoulder, Darvish's return to the rotation would do wonders for the Padres as they continue to fight for a NL Wild Card spot ahead by half a game over the Cardinals.