Who’s hot and who’s not for Padres: June 5-11

Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

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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

Manny Machado

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.

Gary Sanchez

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.

Blake Snell

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).

Fernando Tatis Jr.

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.

Michael Wacha

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.

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Not

Brandon Dixon

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.

Luis Garcia

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.

Brent Honeywell Jr.

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.

Ha-Seong Kim

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.

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