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The Padres are 30-20, the best record in the National League (yes, really!) and are 2 games ahead of the Dodgers. It's all about the pitching (and defense), as the team is 1st in the league in ERA, 2nd in Batting Average Against, 4th-fewest walks and 4th-most strikeouts.
San Diego is wrapping up a homestand in which they've taken 2 of 3 from both St. Louis and Washington. After this game, they go on the road to Philadelphia for four games, and then play the Mets in New York.
Padre Tidbits
The Padres are the only other team besides the Mets to never have a pitcher throw a no-hitter.
The Nationals protested their game against the Padres after it was discovered that the Padres' official lineup card listed a player who had been optioned to AAA before the game as their starting pitcher. Protest was moot as Washington won anyway.
We fortunately miss the Padres' two top pitchers, Mat Latos (he'll go on Friday in Philadelphia versus Halladay) and staff ace Jon Garland.
Petco Park is probably the ballpark that is most similar to Citi Field in terms of size and advantage to the pitcher.
Pitching Matchups
Monday (10:05 PM EDT):
Takahashi v. Kevin Correia (R)
4-4, 4.03 ERA, 43Ks, 22BBs in 51 1/3 innings.
Correia threw 6 shutout innings against St. Louis in his last start against the Cardinals, but walked 6. He has given up at least 3 runs in each of his previous 4 starts however.
Tuesday (10:05 PM EDT):
Pelfrey v. Wade LeBlanc (L)
2-3, 3.71 ERA, 31 Ks, 17BBs in 43 2/3 innings.
Started the year strong but was knocked around by Seattle and St. Louis in his last 2 starts, including 2 homers in each game.
Wednesday (3:35 PM EDT):
Santana v. Clayton Richard (L)
4-3, 3.00 ERA, 46Ks and 23BBs in 63 innings.
Very solid this year and the best of the 3 Padres starters we see this series. Went 7 innings in each of his last four starts. His start on Friday against the nationals was the only time he'd given up more than 3 runs this year.
Padres Lineup
Will Venable RF (L)
4-17-.698 OPS. 12 for 14 on the basepaths.
David Eckstein 2B (R)
1-12-.728 OPS. Still as scrappy as ever, although the weak arm forced a move from SS to 2B when he signed with the Padres for the 2009 season.
Adrian Gonzalez 1B (L)
9 HR, 28 RBI, .827 OPS
The star of the team and one of the better players in the NL. Contract runs through 2011 and is seemingly perpetually linked to trade rumors (although they've been quieted by the Padres' good play this year). Actually has a higher batting average against lefties this year but all the power is against RHPs.
Chase Headley 3B (S)
3 HR, 19 RBI, .660 OPS. 9 for 10 stealing bases.
Nick Hundley C (R)
3-16-.808 OPS
No relation. Splits time with Yorvit Torrealba. Was the hero yesterday with a walkoff RBI single in the 11th.
Jerry Hairston Jr. SS (R)
2-15-.617 OPS. Utility guy who can play anywhere, he's getting the starts at short until Everth Cabrera return.
Chris Denorfia LF (R)
10 for 36 this year with 3 walks. Is usually third on the LF depth chart but is getting starts due to injuries.
Tony Gwynn Jr. CF (L)
1-9-.573 OPS
Great pedigree but not a great player and at age 27 he's not really a prospect anymore. Put up a .350 OBP in 393 ABs last year which was passable but is not doing much of anything in 2010.
Bench
Matt Stairs (L) is 42 and the Padres are his 12th team. He's a left pinch hitter with some power although hasn't done much this year.
Luis Durango (S), speedy outfielder with no power, recently called up.
Dusty Ryan (R), backup catcher. Was not hitting at all in AAA and is up only due to Yorvit Torrealba's absence.
Lance Zawadzki (S), only major leaguer in history with two Zs in his last name. He's also a weak-hitting middle infielder.
Oscar Salazar (R), weak-hitting outfielder.
Bullpen:
Lots of strong performances here.
Closer Heath Bell (R), 2-0, 1.17, 14 for 17 in save chances; 30 Ks and 7 BBs in 23 IP.
Top setup man Luke Gregerson (R), 1.63 ERA in 27 2/3 IP, 32Ks and only 2 BBs and 10 hits.
Mike Adams (R), 3.09 ERA in 23 1/3 IP, 28 Ks, 8 BBs.
Edward Mujica (R), 3.00 ERA in 24 IP despite having given up 6 homers. 24Ks and 3 BBs.
Joe Thatcher (L) is the only lefty; 8 1/3 IP in 13 Games, 11Ks, 2 BBs, 3 hits.
Ryan Webb (R), 1.50 ERA in 12 IP, 5Ks, 5BBs, 11 hits.
Injury list
Catcher Yorvit Torrealba was placed on the restricted list to attend to "personal matters" and will miss the entire series.
Shortstop Everth Cabrera has a strained right hamstring (for the second time this season) and is out up to three weeks.
Outfielder Scott Hairston just started a rehab stint for a strained left hamstring and might be back for this series, and definitely for the next one.
Outfielder Kyle Blanks has a strained right elbow and will miss this series.
Starter Chris Young missed time last year and needed surgery on a torn labrum. He made one start this April and went back on the DL.
Reliever Tim Stauffer had an appendectomy on May 11 and won't be done with rehab for this series or when the Padres come back to New York.
Ex-Mets:
Heath Bell
Ex-Padres:
Jason Bay got his first 10 major-league plate appearances with the Padres in 2003.
Oliver Perez also started there in 2002, before being traded with Bay to Pittsburgh for Brian Giles in 2003.
Henry Blanco was the backup Padre catcher last year.
Gary Matthews Jr. was originally drafted by the Padres and broke in with them in 1994. he also played most of the 2003 season there.
Essential Padres Blog:
Ducksnorts
http://ducksnorts.com/blog/
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