MILWAUKEE -- Matt Waldron was hit hard (and soft), and the Padres dropped their series opener against the Brewers on Tuesday night, 6-4.
Here’s some instant reaction from American Family Field, with Waldron’s status with the Padres seemingly up in the air moving forward.
What's next for Waldron?
Waldron’s line was probably a bit harsh. He lasted just 2 2/3 innings, following opener Bradgley Rodriguez, and he allowed six runs on eight hits. But Waldron dealt with some brutal batted-ball luck, as things spiraled on him in a five-run fourth.
Then again, so much of that was self-inflicted. Waldron put himself in poor counts and couldn’t put away hitters. He walked Jake Bauers. Presented with a free out, Waldron misread a David Hamilton bunt. Then, the inning unraveled.
“I want it so bad that it just is very frustrating,” Waldron said. “I thought our offense played well enough to win a ballgame tonight. I thought our defense played well. I thought I pitched poorly.”
So, what now?
Lucas Giolito just pitched six innings of one-run ball on Sunday in a rehab start with Double-A San Antonio. He could join the Padres’ rotation as soon as this weekend.
Waldron would seem likeliest to give way -- but where to? He’s out of options. Could the Padres use him as a long man? Their bullpen is somewhat full already.
There had been encouraging signs lately from Waldron. But he simply hasn’t put it all together -- and might be running out of time to do so. After six seasons in the organization, Waldron’s tenure in San Diego is at a crossroads. The Padres have a decision to make.
“It doesn’t change what I do,” Waldron said. “I work as hard as I can every day and prepare as well as I can.”
That said, Waldron also understands the situation.
“It’s safe to say my ERA and my numbers aren’t too attractive right now,” he said. “And I have no options. So, I mean, yeah, that’s where I’ll leave it.”
Getting offensive
The Padres need offense. Manager Craig Stammen knows it. Clearly. Just look at his lineup construction.
Facing Brewers right-hander Brandon Sproat, Stammen still went with Nick Castellanos in right field, with Fernando Tatis Jr. at second. With Gavin Sheets playing first base, this was about as offense-centric a lineup as Stammen could write out.
Makes sense. Collectively, the Padres’ bats are cold. If this is what it takes to get their offense going, they can stomach downgrades defensively in three spots -- right field, first and second. (Although Tatis has been so solid at second, you could make the case he’s not a downgrade there at all -- aside from the downgrade you get from plucking his Platinum Glove out of right field.)
In any case, the whole point is that Stammen wants both Castellanos and Miguel Andujar in the lineup. They both delivered on Tuesday night -- Castellanos with a two-out, two-strike, two-run single in the fourth, putting San Diego briefly in front. Andujar would later hit his third homer of the season and plate another run with an RBI double.
“Trying to find playing time for them all is a task that I’m willing to tackle,” Stammen said. “It’s great when more guys are hitting.”
Castellanos’ latest surge is an encouraging sign, considering his roster spot seemed to be in jeopardy as recently as late April. Since then, as he’s gotten more regular at-bats, he’s 6-for-18 (.333) with an .872 OPS in his last six games.
“Hitting is all a rhythm thing,” Castellanos said. “The more you can get into a flow of something, your motions are more repeatable -- at least for me.”
Is Tatis getting closer?
By now, I’m sure you’ve heard: Tatis still hasn’t homered.
But in his last two games, he’s come as close as he has all season. He flied out to the warning track on Sunday against the Cardinals at Petco Park and did so again on Tuesday -- the two longest distances on any Tatis fly balls this season.
That long-awaited home run might not be too far away.
More importantly: Tatis has taken some excellent at-bats in those last two games. He worked two key late walks in the comeback win on Sunday. On Tuesday, he worked another walk in the first. After his deep fly ball in the fifth, Tatis singled and scored in the eighth.
Of course, Tatis has often tantalized with encouraging mini-stretches like this one. He simply hasn’t been able to sustain them. The recent trends are positive. But any thoughts of a potential breakout -- and that elusive first home run -- should be treated with caution until Tatis proves otherwise.