The quarter pole of a 162-game MLB season might be a bit early to speculate about Most Valuable Player candidates, but there’s no question that San Diego Padres right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. is playing like someone determined to win the award in the National League.
His game-winning two-run homer that helped San Diego defeat the visiting Los Angeles Angels 6-4 on Tuesday gave Tatis 11 homers, 26 RBIs and a .316 average in 40 games. He’s on pace for career highs in just about every category.
Tatis will try to keep his early-season roll going on Wednesday night when the Padres and Los Angeles meet in the series rubber game.
“It’s a privilege to be with him,” San Diego manager Mike Shildt said of Tatis. “When you put it all together, he’s a special player. He’s been there every night. He beats you every way possible on a baseball field. [Tatis] has been MVP-caliber.”
With the Padres down 4-2, Tatis started the game-tying, two-run rally in the eighth by drawing a walk and scoring. An inning later, he sent another sellout crowd home with the first walk-off homer of his career.
His work enabled the Padres to overcome another shaky moment from their bullpen as Jeremiah Estrada blew Dylan Cease’s 2-1 lead in two pitches in the top of the seventh, giving up a game-tying double and a two-run homer.
The bullpen has allowed more runs in the last week than it did in the first 34 games of the season.
“They’ve been awesome for more than a month,” Tatis said. “Baseball’s a human game.”
Right-hander Randy Vasquez (2-3, 3.76 ERA) will start for San Diego, looking to follow up a good start on Friday night. He worked the first six innings of a 13-9 win in Colorado, scattering six hits and yielding two runs with a walk and five strikeouts.
While Vasquez has never faced the Angels in his career, his mound opponent has extensive experience against the Padres. Kyle Hendricks (1-4, 5.30) is 8-4 in 15 career starts with a 3.27 earned run average, striking out 84 and walking only 10 in 93 2/3 innings.
As for this year, Hendricks — the longtime Chicago Cubs pitcher — has struggled with location, illustrated by a 4-1 loss Friday night to the Baltimore Orioles. Hendricks permitted six hits and three runs over five innings, walking three and striking out five. The long ball has been an issue this year as he’s given one up in six of his seven starts, including five straight.
While Los Angeles dropped to 17-24 after the latest in a series of bullpen meltdowns Tuesday night, it might get an important reinforcement back in the lineup soon. Outfielder Mike Trout (knee) is optimistic that he’ll be able to return from the injured list shortly.
Even though Trout was hitting just .179 with nine homers and 18 RBI in 29 games when injured on April 30 in Seattle, his return would be meaningful to a lineup low on on-base percentage and high on strikeouts.
“The sharp pain I was feeling is gone,” Trout said. “It’s one of those things where you don’t want to go crazy and have a setback. The progress has been so good the last couple of days.”
–Field Level Media
