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San Diego Padres at Washington Nationals: May 29-31
#1 · May 28, 2026, 11:38 am
31-24 
29-28
Friday, May 29 - 3:45pm
RHP Lucas Giolito(2-0, 2.70 ERA, 5 K, .156 BAA) vs LHP Andrew Alvarez(1-0, 2.84 ERA, 16 K, .217 BAA)
Saturday, May 30 - 1:05pm
RHP Michael King(4-3, 2.76 ERA, 63 K, .201 BAA) vs LHP Foster Griffin(6-2, 3.63 ERA, 60 K, .219 BAA)
Sunday, May 31 - 10:35am
RHP Griffin Canning(0-3, 7.54 ERA, 24 K, .252 BAA) vs RHP Zack Littell(4-4, 5.23 ERA, 30 K, .269 BAA)
After coming off their 3-game first sweep of the season, the Padres, who are 4.5 games back of the Dodgers and in a second place tie with the Dbacks, head east to DC to face the Nats in the last series of the month. They will not be a walk in the park and are tougher at home than on the road. But, I believe they have a better chance against them than they did the Phillies. The Nats pitching have given up the 4th most HRs in MLB.
Giolito has had only two starts and has not allowed a run in 9 of the 10 innings he pitched. The only runs he allowed was in the 6th inning in his first start giving up 3 walks before being pulled for a reliever. King is coming off a rought outing. Canning is coming off 6 solid 1 run innings before he gave uo 2 runs to the Phillies in the 7th.
Padres pitching is not getting any run support and they need it. The offense is the worst in MLB and dead last in batting average. Ty France is the best hitter on the team and a solid 1st baseman who needs to playing almost everday. Why do managers sit the hot hitters like France and run out there everyday hitters that are not hitting like Machado and Merrill, who did go 2 for 4 in game 3 against the Phillies. Also, June is just around the corner and Tatis has not yet hit a HR. I wonder why? He had hit 42 HR in 2021 and has gone down hill since.
NL West Matchups
Dodgers(36-20) host Phillies(29-27)
Dbacks(31-24) at Mariners(28-29)
Giants(22-34) at Rockies(20-37)
Keep The Faith!
GO PADRES!
#2 · May 28, 2026, 2:34 pm
This could be a very enlightening series on the Padres' offense and pitching ... consider:
- Washington has scored the MOST runs in MLB YTD. SD has allowed the 5th FEWEST runs in MLB YTD. Excellent Washington offense vs excellent SD pitching.
- Washington has allowed the MOST runs in MLB YTE. SD scored the 5th FEWEST runs in MLB YTD. Bad Washington pitching vs bad SD hitting.
If the Padres can't rake against the WASH staff ... really have to worry. If the Padres can't at least contain the WASH offense maybe the pitching is not as good as needed.
#3 · May 28, 2026, 5:33 pm
RP Paxton Shultz(0-2, 5.30 ERA, 20 K, .286 BAA ) will open game 1 before Alvarez is brought in.
#4 · May 28, 2026, 6:29 pm
Could be a real bad look if Abrams and Wood hit like they’ve done all year and our guys do the same
#5 · May 29, 2026, 12:46 pm
Game 1 Lineup
1. Tatis 2B
2. Sheets LF
3. Bogaerts SS
4. Machado 3B
5. Merrill CF
6. Andujar DH
7. Laureano RF
8. France 1B
8. Fermin C
Giolito P
#6 · May 29, 2026, 7:23 pm
Padres snap their 4-game losing streak.
Giolito did not look good today. But, the BP held up.
The offense came alive. Merrill and France each homered.
Tatis goes 3 for 5, 1 RBI. His bat seems to come alive. He has gone 11 for 20 (.550 avg) in his last five games. But, still has yet to homer.
King on the mound tomorrow.
GO PADRES!
#7 · May 29, 2026, 9:01 pm
Where would we be without France and Sheets? 4 guys in the lineup with 9 figure contracts and our best bats are a pair of guys we picked up on minor league deals.
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WindsorUKfenn68
#8 · May 30, 2026, 4:52 am
Yesterday proved the old adage "bad hitting beats bad pitching"
#9 · May 30, 2026, 5:12 am
I accept the good of Tatis' recent hits and Machado's single breaking up the long streak of no hits with runners in scoring position. Yes, there is a "but":
Machado's hit was an opposite field somewhat soft and Tatis run of hits have almost exclusively been ground balls / soft liners to the opposite field / center field. Except for the few Machado HR not much pulling with authority (doubles are almost non-existent).
Both were viewed as plus SLG players based on their past ... I will be more comfortable when I see a somewhat consistent pullings and the return of SLG (not just HR but doubles).
Agree the signings of France and Sheets have been great finds by Preller ... I will also add Andujar. 4 months to go but if they continue ... France and Andujar will be FA (along with Laureano and Castellanos) ... who will Preller try to re-sign?
#10 · May 30, 2026, 10:29 am
Game 2 Lineup
1. Tatis 2B
2. Sheets LF
3. Andujar DH
4. Machado 3B
5. Merrill CF
6. Bogaerts SS
7. France 1B
8. Laureano RF
9. Duran C
King P