SAN DIEGO -- No, it's never going to be "the Victor Caratini trade." But what an acquisition Caratini has proven to be for the Padres.
The switch-hitting catcher has been handed a much larger role than the Padres envisioned when they landed him in the seven-player blockbuster that also netted ace pitcher Yu Darvish in December. Caratini has thrived -- particularly in the biggest moments.
Caratini's walk-off home run on Thursday night was unquestionably his biggest hit of the season. But it wasn't the first time he came through in a big spot. Among Caratini's five home runs, four have broken ties and three have broken ties in the final three innings.
"The at-bats have been good," said Padres manager Jayce Tingler. "They've been even better in the biggest of moments. They've been clutch at-bats."
The Padres probably would prefer that Caratini not receive quite so many at-bats. His regular playing time has been largely the result of multiple injuries to Austin Nola. Tingler has spoken regularly about the need to find rest days for Caratini.
Caratini was acquired to serve in something of a timeshare with Nola, catching the starts of Darvish (as always) and another game or two every week. Instead, Caratini's 49 games behind the dish this season entering Friday ranked sixth in the Majors.
"We had an idea that Nola and Caratini were going to be a really good combination both defensively and offensively," said Tingler. "When Nola's been down with the injuries, it's given Vic, who quite frankly has never really had an opportunity to play almost every day, an opportunity. And I think he's a guy who's prepared for it.
"Now that this role has opened up that way, he's certainly taken advantage."
Caratini brough a modest slash line of .218/.310/.361 into Friday, and his best stretch at the plate came when Nola was available and his playing time was more limited. But the Padres are still perfectly happy with their No. 8 hitter reaching base at a .310 clip while tacking on a few clutch hits.
That's especially true if they're getting the type of performance Caratini offers behind the plate. Padres pitchers own a 3.14 ERA, the second-best team ERA in the Majors. Caratini has played no small part.
"He's able to slow the game down," said right-hander Joe Musgrove, who posted seven scoreless innings on Thursday. "Behind the plate, he takes things to heart, and it feels like he lives and dies with the results of his pitchers -- which feels good, knowing that guy's as invested as you are.
"We've got all the trust in the world in him back there. And then to see the way he's handled big at-bats late in the game this year -- it's been incredible."
Rotation plans unveiled
When the Padres optioned Ryan Weathers to Triple-A El Paso earlier this week, they did so citing the fact they wouldn't be using a six-man rotation very often anymore.
Evidently they didn’t mean "never," because they’re right back to a temporary six-man rotation.
Dinelson Lamet will start Sunday, rather than Saturday, leaving Saturday's start to right-hander Miguel Diaz.
Lamet's start on Sunday means Darvish is lined up for the series opener Monday against the rival Dodgers. Tingler didn't announce any further plans, but that seemingly would line up Blake Snell and Musgrove to start the second and third games of that series.
Welcome to the big leagues ... again
Consider Thursday night through the lens of Jake Cronenworth. He has been a big leaguer for a season and a half. He finished second in National League Rookie of the Year voting. He has played some high-stakes postseason games.
But Cronenworth had never played a Major League Baseball home game in front of a capacity crowd.
So, yeah, it was quite a moment for Cronenworth in the on-deck circle when Eric Hosmer launched a game-tying two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning. Cronenworth followed with a single and was on first base for Caratini’s walk-off blast.
"When Hoz hit the homer, I was on deck, had the perfect view of it, and I kind of got chills," Cronenworth said. "Then my base hit, and then Vic gets his walk-off homer, and it's the same thing all over again. Chills again."