SAN DIEGO -- William Myers is hitting baseballs hard, and he's hitting them to the opposite field. That's precisely the version of the 27-year-old slugger that the Padres so sorely missed during his two-month stint on the disabled list.
Myers homered and doubled in the Padres' 4-3 victory over the Pirates on Saturday night. But he started to turn that corner on Friday. That's when he began scorching the baseball to the opposite field, and he continued to do so on Saturday, launching a solo homer off Pittsburgh starter Trevor Williams in the bottom of the third.
"I love it when he's using the whole field," Padres manager Andy Green said. "Wil's getting more and more comfortable. It's just about getting him at-bats right now. You keep feeding him at-bats, he's going to get back to who he's always been."
Myers has four hits that have registered at 105 mph or harder in the last two days, according to Statcast™. In 64 prior at-bats this season, he had done so only seven times.
Despite entering play Saturday hitting just .214/.290/.250 since returning from an oblique strain, Myers believes he's trending upward.
"I've felt pretty good at the plate," Myers said. "Last night, I just got some pitches over the plate and didn't foul them off this time. Staying to the middle of the field, the direction's been good."
As for the strikeouts?
"I had the right mindset on every single at-bat," Myers said. "I just got beat twice."
Green was quick to note the way Myers has peppered the middle and the opposite fields lately.
"His power's always played to right-center very well," said Green. "Probably when he first came back he was quick. There were a lot of foul balls to the pull side. That's not something we've typically seen with Wil, so you can just tell it's taken a little bit of time to get his timing."
Lyles on the mend
Right-hander Jordan Lyles played catch from 90 feet on Saturday afternoon, as he continues to work his way back from inflammation in his right elbow. He said he's feeling "much better" and was optimistic he'd throw a bullpen session in the coming days.
"Today was better than yesterday," Lyles said. "We're going to do the same thing tomorrow, and hopefully I feel a little bit better tomorrow."
Lyles is eligible to return from the disabled list on Monday, but the Padres won't rush him back. He's doubtful to slot back into his rotation spot, which would come up Wednesday in Oakland.
Wednesday starter a mystery
Presuming Lyles isn't inserted into the Padres' rotation, the team will have a vacancy for its Wednesday afternoon game in Oakland. Given the absence of off-days, a bullpen game appears unlikely.
"If [Lyles] progresses well, there's a chance," Green said. "But if he doesn't, we'll look to plug somebody else into that spot for the time being, and when he's back, he's back."
That somebody could be right-hander Luis Perdomo, who was demoted to Triple-A El Paso after a dreadful April. He's posted solid numbers since.
Perdomo owns a 3.20 ERA in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League. The 25-year-old sinkerballer has struck out 58 and walked 16 over 69 2/3 innings. Should Perdomo get the call, he would do so on six days' rest.