Padres top performers of the week (September 7-13)
Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
The Padres are flying high, riding a seven-game winning streak, and have clinched a winning season for the first time since 2010.
San Diego swept both the Rockies and the Giants on their way to their long winning streak. Several players stood out along the way.
Myers is having a resurgent season for the ages. After batting .244 with a .768 OPS and 105 OPS+ since 2017, Myers has exploded this season with a .296 batting average, .976 OPS, and 162 OPS+. He hit .381 with a whopping 250 wRC+ in six games this week, along with three home runs. In Wednesday’s 5-3 win over Colorado, he smacked a game-tying triple.
YOU DIDN'T FORGET, DID YOU??
THIS IS SLAM DIEGO!!! WIL MYERS GOES OPPO! #FriarFaithful | @Padres pic.twitter.com/RttvPLeYAu
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) September 9, 2020
We would be remiss to mention his revival of “Slam Diego” in Tuesday’s 14-5 victory. It was his second grand slam of the season and San Diego’s seventh of the year, which is far and away the best in the big leagues. He homered twice that day and drove in five. Myers should be on the shortlist of National League Player of the Week candidates.
Machado continues his torrid season. He is currently riding a five-game hitting streak in which he is batting .500 with a 1.368 OPS. He helped seal the deal against the Giants on Thursday with a solo home run in the 6-1 victory. He finished the week batting .421 with a 217 wRC+ in the six games.
That sweet, sweet Manny Machado swing 🚀🚀
AND DON'T FORGET TO SLAP SOME CHEESE ON IT! 🍔#FriarFaithful | @Padres pic.twitter.com/uVdFGG9Q2H
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) September 11, 2020
If Fernando Tatis Jr. is still the frontrunner for NL MVP, Machado is hot on his trail. His .313 batting average, .973 OPS, and 163 OPS+ would all be career highs. He is now tied with Tatis for 2.3 bWAR for the team lead and second in the National League.
Profar has quietly put together a solid season after a really slow start. From July 24 to August 10, he batted .130 with a measly 48 wRC+ with one extra-base hit in 15 games. Since that day, he is hitting .313 with a .852 OPS and 127 wRC+. He has hit safely in seven of his last eight games.
They’re partying in San Diego as a Jurickson Profar walk-off is the final, and only, run of the night. #Padres pic.twitter.com/QRcYFfHDSa
— Today in MLB (@Todayin_MLB) September 8, 2020
His week started with a bang as he lined a double down the right-field line for a walk-off RBI, starting the Padres off hot in an undefeated week. He hit .471 with a 207 wRC+ overall in the six games.
Lamet is the clear ace of the staff right now, and on Monday against Colorado, he pitched like it. He pitched into the eighth inning, striking out 11, marking the second time he had fanned that many in a game this season. His ERA is down to 2.24 with a 194 ERA+. He is sixth in the National League with 68 strikeouts and was third before getting extra rest thanks to a postponement with weekend against the Giants.
Dinelson Lamet is the first @Padres pitcher with multiple 11+ K, 0 BB games in a season. pic.twitter.com/sk5OuNVdpx
— MLB Stats (@MLBStats) September 8, 2020
It would be a disservice, not to mention the newest acquisition Clevinger and what he did on Sunday. After a couple of up-and-down starts to begin his Padres tenure, he made a statement in Sunday’s win in Game 1 of a doubleheader. Since it was a seven-inning game, Clevinger took it upon himself to go the distance, which he did with relative ease.
Mike Clevinger, 97mph Paint. 🎨 pic.twitter.com/Jfn6eUdlyX
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) September 13, 2020
He mowed down Giants hitters to the tune of seven strikeouts and two hits in seven innings. He is credit with a complete game shutout despite the shortened game.
Native of Escondido, CA. Lived in San Diego area for 20 years. Padres fan since childhood (mid-90s). I have been writing since 2014. I currently live near Seattle, WA and am married to a Seattle sports girl. I wore #19 on my high school baseball team for Tony Gwynn. I am a stats and sports history nerd. I attended BYU on the Idaho campus. I also love Star Wars.