MILWAUKEE -- Matt Waldron was hit hard, and the Padres dropped their series opener against the Brewers on Tuesday night, 6-4.
Here’s some instant reaction from American Family Field, where San Diego fell back into a tie for first place in the NL West (pending the result of tonight’s game between the Dodgers and Giants in L.A.).
What 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. He walked Jake Bauers. Presented with a free out, Waldron misread a David Hamilton bunt. Then, everything unraveled.
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 have 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.
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, too, this was about as offense-centric a lineup as Stammen could write out.
Makes sense. Collectively, the Padres’ bats are cold. They can stomach downgrades defensively in three spots -- right field, first and second -- if that’s what it takes to get their offense going. (Although Tatis has been so solid at second, it’s worth wondering if he’s a downgrade there at all. Then again, the real downgrade exists because his Platinum Glove is no longer in right.)
In any case, the whole point of this 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.
But, well, same old story. The Padres got the auxiliary offense they were looking for. But not enough from their stars.
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. And after his deep fly ball in the fifth, he singled and scored in the eighth.