Wednesday afternoon did not unfold nearly as positively as the previous night.
The Padres’ lineup was more complete at the start compared to when they rested three regulars on Tuesday, yet they ended up losing a game that impacted both their division and wild-card standings — along with a crucial player.
Both the Dodgers and Cubs clinched victories on Wednesday. The Padres now find themselves 2½ games behind the Dodgers in the National League West and 2½ back from the Cubs in contention for the No. 4 seed. Both of those teams will take the field on Thursday, while the Padres have the day off.
The most significant news from Wednesday was the departure of outfielder Ramón Laureano, who left in the third inning due to a fractured index finger on his right hand and will be sidelined for next week’s wild-card series.
“Sometimes we come in and discuss a slight fracture or a hairline fracture,” Padres manager Mike Shildt stated. “(This) is a fracture. I want to set realistic expectations. However, I also want to keep every option open. I wouldn’t anticipate seeing him early in the playoffs, but there’s hope for later.”
Laureano, who has driven in a team-high 30 runs since joining the team at the trade deadline, shook his hand after swinging on the seventh pitch of a nine-pitch strikeout during the second inning. He was later observed being examined by an athletic trainer in the dugout as Bryce Johnson took over in right field.
Laureano was filling in for Fernando Tatis Jr., who missed a third consecutive day due to flu-like symptoms. Shildt mentioned that Tatis was “definitely better” on Wednesday and suggested that he could return by Friday for the final series against the Diamondbacks.
“Today was about ensuring he’s on the mend,” Shildt said. “He’s not going to play today. Just continue to rest and be ready to go by Friday.”
The other major development on Wednesday involved the Padres’ starting pitching plans for the wild-card series.
Dylan Cease concluded the season on a strong note, managing to navigate through troubles before allowing his only run in the fifth inning.
With the Cubs likely opponent next week, the Padres are contemplating having Cease start one of the games during the best-of-three wild-card series.
Though Cease finished a disappointing regular season with a 4.55 ERA over 32 starts, he achieved 215 strikeouts — the second-highest in the NL. He also boasts a 0.96 ERA in three starts against the Cubs since the beginning of last season, which includes allowing three runs (two earned) in 5⅔ innings at Petco Park in April.
The Padres will utilize Thursday’s off day to adjust the rotation, moving Yu Darvish up to start Friday and shifting Michael King back a day to Saturday. A strong performance by either King or Darvish could lead the Padres to rely on that duo after Nick Pivetta starts Game 1 on Tuesday.
Randy Vásquez is slated to start the regular season finale on Sunday, though whether that game holds significance could influence whether he pitches that day or is held back to be available from the bullpen in the wild-card series.
Cease provided the Padres with a fighting chance on Wednesday, which is all that’s expected during a postseason start. However, two of the pitchers the Padres intend to rely on in the playoffs allowed the game to slip away.
After Cease left a runner in scoring position during the first four innings, the Brewers capitalized in the fifth inning — a moment emblematic of Cease’s inconsistent season.
Cease recorded his seventh and eighth strikeouts to start the inning before Brice Turang connected with a single to left field. Turang advanced to third base on a wild pitch that bounced off catcher Freddy Fermín and nearly reached the Brewers’ dugout, ultimately scoring on Andrew Vaughn’s double to the left field corner.
Cease managed a pop-up to end the inning and conclude his outing.
The Padres struggled to threaten offensively before equalizing in the sixth, as Brewers manager Pat Murphy was criticized for keeping right-hander Erick Fedde on the mound against Jackson Merrill.
The rationale behind this decision was understandable; Merrill had struck out in his previous two at-bats, and Fedde had come in for starter Chad Patrick, retiring the first eight batters he faced.
Fedde had Murray down 1-2 when he threw a cutter on the outside corner against the left-handed hitter, who drove the pitch off the bottom balcony of the Western Metal Building.
After David Morgan, recently activated from the injured list, threw a scoreless sixth inning, Adrian Morejón gave up a run on a pair of singles in the seventh inning.
The Padres failed to score despite loading the bases with one out in the seventh, and a scoreless eighth inning by Kyle Hart was followed by Jeremiah Estrada giving up a home run to Danny Jansen in the ninth.
Now, the Padres must press on without one of their most prolific bats from the past two months. While Laureano’s performance had tapered after a scorching start with the team, he managed a .269 average with nine home runs and nine doubles in 50 games since being traded along with Ryan O’Hearn from the Orioles.
“It’s disappointing,” O’Hearn expressed. “Everyone here recognizes the quality player he is and how much he has contributed. I’ve witnessed it all season long. It’s tough, especially at this stage when you want to head to the postseason at full strength; a player like him — hitting in the middle of the order and being an electrifying presence in the outfield — it feels like a significant loss. Injuries are part of the game, and with many talented players, someone will rise to the occasion and help secure the wild-card spot.”
Shildt mentioned that it would likely be Gavin Sheets who starts in left field. Sheets, batting .254 with a .756 OPS, has begun a team-high 57 games in left this season.
“Winners find solutions,” Shildt said. “… Ramón has been exceptional for us. He provides quality at-bats and is a genuine threat. He generates power to all fields and understands situational hitting. He possesses real toughness, plays a solid outfield, and has good defensive skills. He’s been an invaluable presence not only in our lineup but also in the clubhouse. He has a competitive spirit that makes him a winning player. It’s a painful loss, but we need to find a way to move on, and we will.”
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