Bogaerts back from injury with time to tune up for playoffs

SAN DIEGO -- Xander Bogaerts is back, and the Padres’ offense is just about whole again.

What a time to be getting healthy, too.

The Padres activated Bogaerts off the 10-day injured list after he missed four weeks with a fracture in his left foot. He played shortstop and went 0-for-4 in a 7-0 victory over the Brewers on Tuesday night at Petco Park.

“I’m definitely happy to be able to come back a little bit sooner and be able to play in some big league games,” Bogaerts said. “To get a couple games in me before we head into the playoffs will be really nice.”

Not to say that the Padres’ offense was whole on Tuesday. The day after they clinched their spot in the postseason with a dramatic 11-inning, walk-off victory, a handful of regulars were given the day off. Plus, Fernando Tatis Jr. remained sidelined by an illness that could keep him out Wednesday, as well.

But the point is this: Barring anything unforeseen, the Padres should have their full contingent of hitters for next week’s National League Wild Card Series. Most likely, that series will begin Tuesday against the Cubs in Chicago. But the Padres aren’t conceding that just yet. In fact, they made up ground on both the Cubs and Dodgers, both of whom lost on Tuesday night.

If the Padres were to catch either of those two, they would host a Wild Card Series. They currently trail both by 1 1/2 games. The Dodgers own the tiebreaker for the NL West title, but the Padres would hold a tiebreaker over the Cubs in the battle for the top Wild Card spot.

“I want to be here [at Petco Park] Tuesday night, playing in front of the best fans in baseball,” said manager Mike Shildt. “We are going to be smart about giving some guys some rest. … We’re going to be mindful about putting ourselves in the best position to be ready and healthy to go compete on Tuesday. But also, we want to be here on Tuesday.”

Meanwhile, Bogaerts’ return raises a handful of the usual good-problem-to-have lineup questions -- questions that might not be answered until Game 1 on Sept. 30. Shildt has noted that Bogaerts will return to the full-time shortstop role, which pushes Jake Cronenworth back to second and Luis Arraez either to first base or DH.

Shildt has given no indication that Arraez would be considered for a bench role, despite his struggles this season. Presumably, the Padres would then choose between Gavin Sheets and Ryan O’Hearn for a lineup spot -- which leaves one of those two available to come off the bench in a big moment. Again, a good problem to have.

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Bogaerts, meanwhile, could slot into the No. 7 spot in the lineup when the Padres have their full contingent of hitters available. Or he could return to the fifth spot, bumping Ramón Laureano down to seventh, though Laureano has been one of the Padres’ best hitters since his arrival at the Trade Deadline.

“It creates, really, what the design of the club is to be, and that’s to have a balanced attack one through nine,” Shildt said. “Having Bogey back, and then when Fernando gets back, it’ll allow us to have that complete lineup.”

To combat the effects of the injury, Bogaerts will wear both an insert in his shoe and, when he bats, a foot guard for the remainder of the season. He sustained the injury in Seattle on Aug. 27, when he fouled a ball off his left foot. He was tested several times at shortstop on Tuesday night and looked both smooth and rangy, making every play.

Bogaerts had a slash line of .262/.330/.387 at the time of the injury with 10 homers and 20 steals. Those numbers are well below his career averages, but he had begun to look much better in June, July and August after a very slow start. He’s also been excellent defensively throughout the season, worth 7 outs above average.

It’s unclear exactly what Bogaerts’ schedule might look like in the coming days. That could depend on how he feels day to day. But he’s confident that returning with five games remaining in the season gives him the right amount of runway to prepare for the playoffs.

“The most important thing is feeling good these couple days, and just keep the momentum going as a team,” Bogaerts said.