Bill Center, longtime sportswriter for U-T San Diego, is an employee of the Padres.
Going into the three games in San Francisco, Padres manager Andy Green awarded starts to Bryan Mitchell, Robbie Erlin and Luis Perdomo with specific goals in mind.
Each pitcher delivered in their final 2018 outings, giving the Padres even more to contemplate over the winter.
Mitchell threw 8 2/3 innings of shutout ball Monday night, allowing seven hits and three walks with seven strikeouts. It marked the first time in his career that Mitchell went beyond seven innings, had seven strikeouts and threw more than 100 pitches (118) in a game. Over his four starts since returning from the disabled list, the right-hander is 2-1 with a 2.19 ERA and a 1.22 WHIP to strengthen his hopes of returning to the rotation in 2019.
Erlin Tuesday night allowed two runs (one earned) on four hits and no walks with four strikeouts over five innings. Over his last three starts, the left-handed Erlin had a 2.94 ERA strengthening his bid for either a starter or reliever role in 2018.
Green wanted to see three strong innings from Luis Perdomo in Wednesday's "bullpen" start to get a glimpse of what the right-handed sinker-baller might do in the future as a spot starter and two-to-three inning reliever. Perdomo allowed a hit with four strikeouts in three scoreless innings, needing only 42 pitches to complete the outing.
NOTEBOOK
Even if the Padres sweep their final series of the season against the Arizona Diamondbacks, they will finish with their worst home record ever at Petco Park and one of their worst home records ever. By winning two of three in San Francisco, the Padres finished with a 35-46 road record in 2018. But they enter the final weekend of the season with a 29-49 home record. Only the Baltimore Orioles have a worse home record this season. And the Padres are really 27-48 at Petco Park this season because three of their "home" games were played in Mexico, where they won two of three against the Dodgers.
Freddy Galvis was 2-for-4 Wednesday night with his fifth triple of the season. He has hit safely in 10 of his last 11 games, going 20-for-43 (.465) with six doubles, a triple, two homers, three walks, six RBIs and 10 runs scored - for a .500 on-base percentage and a .791 slugging percentage for a 1.291 OPS. Also, Galvis finished the season with a six-game hitting streak against the Giants, going 14-for-26 (.538) with five doubles, a triple, a homer, six runs scored and four RBIs.
Miguel Diaz issued a walk and had a strikeout in two innings Wednesday night. Over his last three outings, the 2016 Rule 5 Draft acquisition allowed no runs on one hit and two walks with five strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.
Brad Wieck struck out one in a perfect inning Wednesday night. Over four outings since being promoted from Triple-A El Paso on Sept. 11, Wieck has allowed one run on two hits with seven strikeouts in six innings for a 1.50 ERA and a 0.33 WHIP.