DETROIT -- The Padres are adamant: No matter who¡¯s injured, no matter who¡¯s on the field, they can win any game, any day.
It¡¯s a noble attitude -- one instilled by the coaching staff and carried out by a veteran-laden roster. But these are the realities of the current situation: The Padres are without four regulars in their starting lineup. They¡¯re also without key arms in their rotation and bullpen. And at some point, that level of attrition was going to catch up to them.
It did over the past week, in the form of a 2-4 road trip through Houston and Detroit. That trip ended on Wednesday with a 6-0 loss to the Tigers at Comerica Park -- San Diego¡¯s first shutout defeat of the season.
¡°We know they¡¯re coming back,¡± Manny Machado said of the team¡¯s injured players. ¡°It¡¯s just a matter of keeping the boat afloat. We¡¯ve been doing that. We¡¯ve been playing really good baseball. Guys have come in and really stepped in big-time for us.¡±
To borrow Machado¡¯s metaphor, the Padres are doing far more than staying afloat. Their 17-8 record is second-best in the Majors and the best in a loaded National League West. Still, the road trip was a trying one. Here are some takeaways after the finale:
1. The lineup imbalance is creating issues
Even with the injuries, the Padres have ways to score. They still have Fernando Tatis Jr. and Machado at the top. They still have a handful of hitters lower in the lineup -- like Jose Iglesias, who notched both of the team¡¯s hits Wednesday -- working very tough at-bats.
It¡¯s just that ¡ those hitters almost all bat right-handed. Four of San Diego¡¯s regular lefty bats -- Jackson Merrill, Jake Cronenworth, Luis Arraez and Jason Heyward are all currently on the IL.
¡°Yeah, it¡¯s a little bit more right-handed-balanced lineup,¡± said manager Mike Shildt. ¡°But that¡¯s what we have, and we feel good about the at-bats we¡¯re getting.¡±
The lefty-hitting Gavin Sheets has been thrust into a prominent role, batting between Tatis and Machado in the No. 2 spot. And while Sheets has been outstanding this season, that¡¯s certainly not where they envisioned him in the lineup.
Plus, on a day like Wednesday, when the Padres started Sheets, Tirso Ornelas and Tyler Wade, there were no lefties available on their bench. That meant, in the game¡¯s biggest moment, with two runners on and Tatis on deck in a 4-0 game in the eighth, Elias D¨ªaz was the best pinch-hitting option against righty Tommy Kahnle. D¨ªaz worked a solid at-bat, but ultimately flied out harmlessly to left.
2. More offense to find on the fringes?
¡°We told these guys that came up that they¡¯re going to be a big part of this team,¡± Machado said. ¡°Injuries happen. Sucks for us it happened so early [that] some of our guys have gone down. But we have guys stepping up. Oscar [Gonzalez] is doing a helluva job. ¡ Tyler has been freaking super-hot for us, playing a position he¡¯s never played.¡±
Indeed, a quick hat-tip to Wade: The Padres are without their three most experienced center fielders in Merrill, Heyward and Brandon Lockridge. They¡¯ve since turned to Wade, a utilityman, and he¡¯s been excellent defensively, while reaching base at a .414 clip -- which is precisely what the Padres need from the bottom of their lineup, setting the table for the mashers at the top.
Recent call-ups like Wade have kept that proverbial boat afloat. But it¡¯s worth wondering if the Padres could find more offense. They¡¯ve prioritized defense at the bottom of the lineup -- perhaps rightly so. Mason McCoy¡¯s glovework helped win them Tuesday¡¯s game. Their catchers have drawn rave reviews for their work behind the plate.
But Luis Campusano has mashed at Triple-A El Paso. Perhaps, amid all the injuries, there¡¯d be room for Campusano as a third catcher? (Albeit less as a catcher and more of a potent bat available to DH and pinch-hit.)
3. The Padres can rely on their run prevention
Only the Mets have a better team ERA than the Padres' 2.92 mark. Sure, the Padres were shut out for the first time on Wednesday, held in check by a dominant Reese Olson.
Less than 24 hours prior, though, they had pitched their way to a seventh shutout of the season, the most in the Majors.
On any given night, the Padres are liable to hang a zero on their opponent. Which means on any given night, the Padres can feel confident they¡¯ll have a chance to win.