SAN DIEGO-- Just one day after clinching their second straight playoff berth in an exhilarating 11th inning walk-off, the Padres presented a dramatically altered lineup versus the Milwaukee Brewers.
While Fernando Tatis remains sidelined with what manager Mike Shildt calls an illness, Manny Machado, Jackson Merrill and Jake Cronenworth were given the night off, although the Padres are still within reach of both the top wild card spot and the National League West.
Vásquez on the bump. pic.twitter.com/cRNWDwJN3v
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However, Xander Bogaerts returned to the Padres starting lineup after missing over a month with a fractured left foot, and that's good news for an offense that's still looking to find consistency as they prepare for the playoffs.
"I feel good, definitely a little nervous going out there today, but I mean hopefully once the game starts, I get over that," said Bogaerts. "I am definitely happy to be able to come back a little bit sooner and being able to play in some big-league games. I mean it's different in playing in some games down there as opposed to playing here in the big leagues where things are a little more quicker. I mean guys are just that much better and get a couple of games in me before we head into the playoffs. I think it'll be nice."
Bogaerts, who was slashing .262/.330/.717 with a career-high 20 stolen bases before his injury, stressed the importance of getting in some games before the playoffs start to get his timing back, as well as the importance of the Padres creating some real momentum down the stretch.
"Happy the boys are able to grind it out. We all imagine we could have been in a better position, but I mean we claim the playoff and that's what's important. I mean you're going to play every good team in the playoffs regardless. So it doesn't matter if it's X team or Y team, all the teams that are in it are going to be pretty good. So at one point if you want to reach all the way to the end, you have to play all those good teams."
"It's a good time for Bogey to be back," said Shildt. "You know we talked about the grindy-ness and missing him. Sometimes, you don't appreciate how solid that guy is and how much he means to our lineup until it's like anything. You don't appreciate something until it's gone sometimes and unfortunately, it was gone. But you know, Crony, and I believe he picked up the proverbial slack, but having Bogey back's a big part of this and the timing of it is great because it's going to give him four to five games to play and get his timing and get back to what he needs to do to help us win."
Now with Bogaerts back in the fold and Tatis on the mend, Shildt is hopeful the Padres will finally have the true depth of their lineup back when it matters the most.
"We have not had it. We clearly have a deep lineup and it's good we have a deep position player team, guys that have been able to fill in and fill in admirably. Last night (Bryce) Johnson goes out and plays a great game. McCoy's in there today expecting to do things to help us win a ballgame.... but with Bogey in the lineup, it balances it out. It creates really what the design of the club needs to be and that's to have a balanced attack one through nine. And when Fernando gets back, it will allow us to have that complete lineup."
Shildt says Tatís, who was not at Petco Park for the Padres playoff-clinching celebration, was still pretty sick and experiencing nausea, fever and chills.
"Still battling it, man. Still in a position where medically everybody's like just get rest. Thankfully we were able to do what we did last night. But don't feel like it was something where we need to bring him in and try to grind through. He's just not feeling really good. He's on the mend a little bit and we'll see about tomorrow."
Notable
INF Will Wagner was optioned to the Arizona complex league to make room for Bogaerts... the Padres 34-27 record since the All-Star break is third best in the National League... Dylan Cease will start the series finale versus the Brewers on Wednesday afternoon.