The Padres top performers of the week April 12-18
Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
The San Diego Padres finished the week 3-4 after a tough series against the Dodgers.
Any of the Padres would tell you they were disappointed with how this week went. They first split a four-game series with the subpar Pirates and then lost two out of three to the hated Dodgers in a heated, tense, close matchup.
Despite the disappointing results, the Friars still had several players stand out. Here are five.
Machado started slowly this season, as he did last year. Just a reminder that last season, Machado ended up with the National League Silver Slugger for third base and finished third in MVP voting. This week, it looks like he is finding his stroke once again. The star third baseman is in the midst of a 16-game on-base streak dating back to April 2. He smacked his third home run of the year in the series finale in Pittsburgh, which boosted the Padres to a key victory. He racked up six hits in the three games against his former team, the Dodgers, batting .500 in the series.
MANNY MACHADOOOOOOOOOOOOOO SEE YA 💣#HungryForMore | @Padres pic.twitter.com/YMPe767DNN
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) April 15, 2021
Overall, Machado hit .360 for the week, with a .965 OPS and 163 wRC+, all tops on the team during the last seven games.
Myers continues his red-hot start to 2021, despite being hindered by a cranky knee for part of the week. His week started with a bang against the Pirates. On Monday, he drove in five runs and smacked his third home run of the season, leading the Friars to a 6-2 win.
For the rest of the week, he was on and off the field with his bad knee. However, he managed to collect two hits in Friday’s extra-inning loss to the Dodgers. He reached base twice in Saturday’s loss as well. For the week, he batted .353 with a .950 OPS and 163 wRC+, tied with Machado for the best mark on the team during that time. On the season, Myers is batting .327 with a .994 OPS in 16 games.
MYERS WITH A 2 RUN HOME RUN🔥#HungryForMore l @Padres l @wilmyers pic.twitter.com/Q6SQVgeDRV
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) April 13, 2021
We would be remiss not to mention the impact Hosmer has made early in the 2021 season. Several times this week, the first baseman came through in the clutch. First, in Pittsburgh, he helped bust the game open in Thursday’s victory, lining a single with the bases loaded to score two runs. He then singled home the tying run in the bottom of the ninth inning on Friday to send the game into extra innings against the Dodgers.
In Sunday’s win over the Dodgers, Hosmer collected two clutch hits that scored two key runs. With runners in scoring position this season, Hosmer is batting a robust .455. He finished the week batting .333 with a 136 wRC+.
PAPO for the lead! (Oh and @tatis_jr was safe 🥱)@Padres | @TheRealHos305 | #HungryForMore pic.twitter.com/Ysmo3Krt8D
— Bally Sports San Diego (@BallySportsSD) April 18, 2021
When the Padres acquired Darvish via trade just after Christmas, this was the type of week they envisioned for their new ace. He made two starts this week. His first one came in Pittsburgh when the Padres desperately needed him to go deep into the game to spare a fatigued bullpen. He fulfilled that mission perfectly, tossing seven brilliant innings while striking out six and allowing just one run. The Friars went on to win, giving Darvish his first victory as a Padre.
On Saturday, he had the pleasure of dueling against Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers. That pitching matchup lived up to the hype, as Kershaw went six shutout innings while striking out eight Friars. Darvish went seven innings for the second straight game, allowing just one run on one hit and nine strikeouts. He matched Kershaw blow-for-blow.
Yu Darvish, Sick 95mph Two Seamer.
Tornado Tom Hallion on the punchout. 🌪️ pic.twitter.com/IjOZ4PvUEm
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) April 18, 2021
Darvish looks like he is hitting his stride and getting comfortable in his new brown-pinstriped digs. In his two starts, he totaled 14 innings with a minuscule 1.29 ERA and 1.89 FIP.
It’s time to appreciate what Craig Stammen has done during his Padres career. He started Game 3 of the Wild Card series and gave the Padres a chance to win the game and the series, which they did. After Chris Paddack had his best start of 2021 in Thursday’s win over the Pirates, Stammen came in for the seventh inning and never gave up the ball. He spared the bullpen three innings and did not allow a single run, earning himself a three-inning save. That marks the second time this season he has gone at least three innings in one outing.
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He also added a scoreless outing in Sunday’s win over the Dodgers. He owns a 2.45 ERA in six appearances thus far this season. He has been asked to fill a variety of roles of late and has come through time after time.
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.