Padres look to interrupt 5-game skid vs. Royals

The reeling San Diego Padres are desperately in want of a bounce begin

Enter the Kansas Metropolis Royals

The Padres return residence Monday evening using a five-game shedding streak that climaxed over the weekend with a three-game sweep by the hands of the Dodgers in Los Angeles. General, the Padres have misplaced seven of their final eight video games — dropping San Diego 4 video games under .500 on the quarter-mark of the season

And Sunday, the Padres acquired shut out for the sixth time this season, one shy of the league-worst New York Mets

The beginning of the season has develop into one thing of a humiliation for a Padres group carrying the excessive expectations of a $292 million wage. Sure, they’ve 4 confirmed stars on the prime of the order in Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts and confirmed designated hitters in the appropriate/left tandem of Nelson Cruz and Matt Carpenter. However they’re additionally final within the main leagues with a Mendoza-line batting common with runners in scoring place

After Sunday’s loss at Dodger Stadium – capping a collection by which the Padres scored 4 runs within the three losses — Padres supervisor Bob Melvin mentioned the plight of the Padres

“It would not look good when you do not get any hits,” mentioned Melvin. “We have not been in a position to maintain it. Till we maintain it, we’re not the group we anticipated to be. The offense has not taken maintain with any consistency. It is time to get residence and regroup.”

And what higher group to “regroup” in opposition to than the Royals, who at 12-30 have the second-worst document within the main leagues. Truly, the three-game collection in opposition to the Royals represents the attainable opening of a window of alternative for San Diego. After closing the six-game homestand with three in opposition to the Purple Sox, the Padres hit the highway for a nine-game journey to Washington (final within the Nationwide League East), the New York Yankees (fourth within the American League East) and Miami (additionally under .500)

The Royals–Padres collection begins Monday evening with Kansas Metropolis’s Brad Keller (3-3, 4.31 ERA) going in opposition to San Diego’s Michael Wacha (3-1, 4.82) in a match of right-handers

Earlier than being swept by the Brewers over the weekend in a three-game collection in Milwaukee, the Royals had gained 4 of 5 video games in opposition to the A’s and White Sox

“We have been taking part in higher,” mentioned Royals supervisor Matt Quatraro. “We have loads of youthful gamers who’re nonetheless discovering their approach. I see enchancment.

The 6-foot-5, 27-year-old Keller has a 1.765 WHIP and a .266 opponents’ batting common going into his ninth begin of the season. Keller has given up 9 runs (eight earned) on 20 hits and 13 walks with 9 strikeouts over 14 2/3 innings his previous three begins. He has given up a league-worst 32 walks in 39 2/3 innings this season with a poor 0.91-to-one strikeout to stroll ratio. He has labored one inning throughout two earlier appearances in opposition to the Padres, permitting a run on 4 hits and two walks with one strikeout

“It is command with Brad,” mentioned Quatraro. “He depends upon his breaking ball loads. When he has it working, he is acquired the weapons.”

Wacha will likely be making his eighth begin for the Padres and has a 1.339 WHIP and a .257 opponents’ batting common. Over his final three begins, Wacha has given up 4 runs on 9 hits and 6 walks in 17 innings for a 2.12 ERA and a 0.882 WHIP. Wacha is 3-2 lifetime in 10 video games (9 begins) in opposition to the Royals with a 3.51 ERA, a 1.119 WHIP and a .255 OBA

–Discipline Stage Media