SAN DIEGO -- For the first time since March 31, the Padres lost a series.
They dropped Wednesday afternoon’s rubber match against the Cubs, 5-4 -- snapping a stretch of seven series in which the Padres went 6-0-1.
Here’s some instant reaction from Petco Park:
Stars still slumping
If I told you Jackson Merrill, Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado combined to hit .224 with only seven home runs through April …
You probably wouldn’t have guessed that San Diego would be 19-11 and half a game out of first place in the National League West. In fact, the Padres just won 18 games in April, something they’ve only done one other time -- in 1998 when they finished with 98 wins and the NL pennant.
Glass half full: The Padres have managed to not only survive -- but thrive -- without much from their biggest contributors on offense.
Glass half empty: They’re going to need that trio to get going at some point.
Castellanos gets on the board
Nick Castellanos is still getting used to this.
He’s been a regular starter in the big leagues for about a decade. But he signed with the Padres knowing that he might be deployed as a bench piece, and, sure enough, that’s how he’s been used.
“I’m just adapting,” Castellanos said earlier this month. “I’m a rookie at this.”
With only sporadic playing time, Castellanos has struggled. He entered play Wednesday hitting just .151 with a .404 OPS. But he delivered the go-ahead single in Monday’s victory. Then, on Wednesday, he launched a game-tying, two-run homer off the left-field scoreboard, his first as a Padre.
There’s still not much playing time available for Castellanos. The Padres’ outfield is full, and Ty France has begun to assert himself at first base. So, for now, he’ll continue to come off the bench and maybe DH occasionally.
The Padres believe he can still provide plenty of value in that role -- and Wednesday might’ve helped to prove their point.
Waldron makes a rotation case
Matt Waldron entered his start with questions about how long he might hold his place in the rotation. Griffin Canning is on his way back from injury. Lucas Giolito is building up after his recent signing. There are only so many rotation spots to go around.
Waldron’s line won’t show it. He allowed three runs over five innings. But he was solid on Wednesday -- despite getting little help from his defense. In each of the first two innings, Padres defenders dropped a catchable ball -- Jake Cronenworth in the first and Jackson Merrill in the second. Waldron worked out of those two innings having allowed only one run.
In the fourth, Waldron hung a sweeper to Cubs center fielder Pete Crow-Armstrong. It was a hittable pitch, and he was punished for it. Crow-Armstrong sent it to the right-field seats for a two-run homer. But that hanging sweeper might’ve been Waldron’s only true mistake on the afternoon. (The baserunner had only reached on a bunt single.)
This was not a quality start, by any definition. But it was promising -- at least compared with Waldron’s recent outings. It seems likely he’ll get at least one more chance to make his case to stick. This was something to build on.