Who’s hot and who’s not for Padres: May 2-8
Mandatory Credit: Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports
The Padres finished off yet another solid week, going 4-2 with a split against the Guardians and a series win over the Marlins.
Here are the Padres players who stood out during the week, along with a few who struggled.
Hot
It’s almost required to start with the hero of Sunday’s dramatic comeback win on Mother’s Day. With the Padres floundering in the middle of a 20-inning scoreless streak at the plate, Alfaro delivered in a big way to cap off the week. The Marlins were up 2-0 with two runners on and two outs, needing to just retire Alfaro for the win.
The Padres’ backup catcher had other ideas. He launched the first pitch over the center field wall, giving the Padres a walk-off 3-2 victory to seal the four-game series win over Miami. It sent Petco Park into pure hysteria and it provided the most dramatic win of the young season.
WALK IT OFF, JORGE ALFARO! 🚀 pic.twitter.com/E6oMWo2EG2
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 8, 2022
This is becoming a broken record. Machado continues to carry, and at times, drag, this offense to win after win. This week, he hit .429 with 1.395 OPS, including three home runs. The star third baseman notched two dingers in one game in the opening contest with the Marlins on Thursday. The five-time All-Star is currently in the middle of an 18-game on-base streak.
Leading the majors in average (.381), hits (40) and runs (26) while leading the NL in OPS (1.107), Machado is on the tear of his Padres career. If the season ended today, it would be a travesty if he was not named unanimous NL MVP.
Manny “Way Too Early 2022 MVP” Machado
(🎥: @Padres) pic.twitter.com/xxw5ZDJQBM
— Danny Vietti (@DannyVietti) May 6, 2022
With most of the Padres’ starting rotation humming, on paper, most assumed Nick Martinez would be the weakest link. However, that certainly was not the case this week when he put together a much-needed long outing following a double-header in Cleveland the day before. Against Miami, he notched seven innings, allowing just one run and striking out four. The Padres desperately needed a long outing from him and he delivered.
The bullpen rightfully received a lot of flak this week, especially after the meltdown that led to the loss to Cleveland in the second game of the doubleheader. While he technically was charged with the blown save against the Guardians, he was not charged with any earned runs as he let inherited runners score. Additionally, he went on to get four needed outs, finishing the ninth inning to get to extras. He then tossed a 1-2-3 eighth inning in Friday’s 3-2 win over Miami. He followed that up with two scoreless innings on Sunday, totaling 4 1/3 scoreless innings for the week.
Not
The Padres’ center fielder is yet to get it going in 2022. Grisham hit a new low this week, going 1-for-21 for a .048 average. He has a lowly .153 average and .517 OPS through 29 games this season.
Hill only logged 2/3 of an inning this week, which was part of the problem. He was the main culprit in San Diego’s late meltdown in Cleveland. After having a 5-2 lead in the eighth, Hill walked one and surrendered four hits, eventually being charged with three earned runs which tied the game. He now owns a 11.12 ERA through nine games this season. To add insult to injury, he is now on the injured list with shoulder inflammation.
Perhaps the saddest development thus far for the Padres in 2022 is Lamet’s continued fall from grace. Just two seasons removed from finishing fourth in Cy Young voting, he now looks completely lost on the mound. Whether it is due to his elbow not being fully healthy or him not being comfortable in a relief role, Lamet has been completely ineffective. He appeared in two games this week and only got two outs total. Meanwhile he allowed two hits, two walks and a hit batter for three runs and a 40.50 ERA.
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.