Slugger needs to find another gear and starting pitcher must hold together a beleaguered rotation for Padres in second half
Dylan Cease pitches against the Brewers during the first inning of the Padres’ Jjune 21 game against Milwaukee at Petco Park. The Padres need a lot of things from a lot of people in a lot of areas to find a way back into the playoffs after the All-Star break. Start with pitching. Stir in offensive consistency.Those thought calisthenics led to picking a pitcher and position player who have the potential to shoulder-shake fates and fight off the storm clouds when the weather sours.
If Cease can be good or at least dependably solid, there’s pitching to fill some gaps with the trade deadline looming. There’s no replacement for him, however. The production slipped by Machado’s lofty standards in 2023, and the Padres missed the playoffs. Machado hit just .258 with an OPS+ of 113, his lowest total since his second season in the big leagues.
Getting over the hump? Making a run? Creating a cushion? That’s where Machado can find another gear and carry a team. Machado has caught fire over the last month, hitting .326 with seven home runs, 19 RBIs and an OPS of .942. The surge has boosted his season totals to a .267 average with 13 homers, 52 RBIs and a .742 OPS.
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