Who’s hot and who’s not for Padres: June 5-11
Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
The Padres have slowly begun turning the ship around in a positive direction. Which players stood out this week?
The San Diego Padres finished the week at 4-2 (counting the last game of the Cubs series on Monday). They are now 6-4 in June. Who is playing well? Who is struggling?
Hot
Finally, Manny Machado looks like himself. After a brutal start to the season, which came to a head with his first time on the IL since 2014, Machado appears to be back. He hit .385 this week, with a .984 OPS and three extra-base hits. He added a stellar 173 wRC+. Plus, he is playing other-worldly defense, as always.
ICYMI Manny Machado made yet another amazing grab yesterday. 👀
(MLB x @PeteandGerrys) pic.twitter.com/KixfpYhs3k
— MLB (@MLB) June 11, 2023
Although he has tapered off from his 2004-Barry-Bonds-esque hot streak from his first week with the team, Sanchez continues to be the clear best option at catcher in San Diego. He turned in a .976 OPS and 159 wRC+ despite batting just .240 with a 37-percent strikeout rate. That is aided by his team-high three homers over the last six games. As long as Sanchez continues to hit the ball hard, the Padres can live with his feast-or-famine approach they have so lacked from their catchers of late.
It appears we are getting “Second Half Snell” a little early this season. He has allowed one run or less in four consecutive starts, totaling a 0.75 ERA. Facing the Rockies in Denver, a pitcher’s nightmare, Snell bowed his neck and turned in the best start of his season and arguably the best start of his Padres career. He tossed seven innings, allowing just one run with zero walks and 12 strikeouts. He is beginning to make a strong case for the Padres to have back-to-back NL Pitchers of the Month (Wacha won the distinction in May).
Blake Snell had himself a day in Colorado 👏
7.0 IP, 3 H, 0 BB, 1 ER, 12 Ks pic.twitter.com/DuKsvMjNnA
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) June 11, 2023
Tatis continues to be himself. He hits the ball hard, plays excellent defense, and wreaks havoc on the basepaths. He led the team (minimum 20 plate appearances) with a 180 wRC+ this week, along with a 1.012 OPS. It’s clear he is the catalyst for the Padres’ offensive attack. He collected eight hits this week, half of which were for extra bases.
Fernando Tatis Jr. That’s the name. pic.twitter.com/ODxQYhcZnM
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) June 10, 2023
Wacha continues to be one of the most heady signings by the team in years. He had a clunker in his start last week against the Cubs. He bounced back beautifully, tossing six shutout innings with seven strikeouts, allowing just two hits to the Mariners.
Not
Dixon seems outmatched at the big-league level. He did not register a walk all week, with a 25 percent strikeout rate. He hit .167 with a .583 OPS.
The ire of Padres fans was directed Garcia’s direction after he spoiled Snell’s brilliant outing in Denver on Sunday. In his first outing since returning from the IL, he allowed three hits, two runs on a game-tying homer that spoiled the Padres’ bid for a sweep of the Rockies.
After a hot start to the season, Honeywell has cooled off considerably. He has allowed a home run in each of his last two outings, both this week. He took the loss in both outings, not being able to complete two innings.
It hurts to put Kim on this list. His defense still dazzles, but his bat has gone quiet. He hit .211 with an 85 wRC+ this week at the plate.
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.