In the overall ranking
Detroit Tigers (70-68, 4th in AL Central)
The Tigers are 23-18 since the All-Star break and five games out of the AL’s final wild-card spot as they arrive at Petco Park looking to at least achieve their first winning season since 2016 (86-75). They rank 28th in on-base percentage, but eighth in ERA (3.78) and 10th in bullpen ERA (3.81 ERA). Detroit’s plus-17 run differential is also 16th in the game. The Padres won two of three games in Detroit last year.
San Diego Padres (76-60, 3rd in NL West)
The Padres are 4-3 on the road and are virtually tied with the Diamondbacks for the NL’s first wild-card spot, three games behind the Dodgers in the division. They are three games ahead of the Braves, currently the NL’s third wild-card team, and four games ahead of the Mets, who are currently out. The Padres’ run differential of plus-67 is the 10th best in the major leagues.
What have you been doing lately?
- Detroit: The Tigers are 10-4 in their last 14 games with a 2.93 ERA over that span, the third-lowest in baseball. Detroit also has an OPS of .742 over that span, good for ninth place. Leading batters over that span: 1B Spencer Torkelson (4 HRs, .897 OPS), OF Kerry Zimmerman (3 HRs, .908 OPS) and OF Parker Meadows (1 HR, .910 OPS).
- San Diego: The Padres have an ERA of 4.58 and are 8-7 in their last 15 games. Their hitters have an OPS of .727 during that period, with 3B Manny Machado (.962 OPS) hit five home runs during this time, the most on the team, and OF MichaelJackson (.845 OPS) and added four. Both OF Jurickson Profar (.634) and 2B Xander Bogaerts (.626 OPS) are below .700 over the last 15 days.
Clubhouse Manager
- OPS: Tigers – OF Riley Greene (.829), OF Matt Vierling (.742), 2B Colt Keith (.694); Padres – OF Jurickson Profar (.841), OF Jackson Merrill (.813), 3B Manny Machado (.789).
- Homer: Tigers – Greene (20), Vierling (15), OF Kerry Carpenter (14); Padres – Machado (23), Merrill (21), Profar (21).
- RBIs: Tigers – Greene (58), Keith (52), Vierling (50); Padres – Machado (83), Profar (81), Merrill (79).
- Thefts: Tigers – INF Zack McKinstry (14), OF Parker Meadows (9), OF Wenceel Pérez (9); Padres – SS Ha-Seong Kim (22), Merrill (16), 2B Xander Bogaerts (10).
- Stores: Tigers – RHP Jason Foley (20 of 23, 3.10 ERA), LHP Tyler Holton (6 of 6, 2.44 ERA); Padres – RHP Robert Suarez (30 of 33, 2.00 ERA); LHP Tanner Scott (20 of 22, 1.51 ERA)
- Appearances: Tigers – RHP Will Vest (59, 3.05), Foley (56), Holton (54); Padres – RHP Jason Adam (61, 2.07 ERA), LHP Yuki Matsui (59, 3.38 ERA), Scott (59).
Pitching duels
Monday
- Tigers to be announced | Coach of Detroit AJ Hinch has not announced a starter yet, but it could be an opener ahead of RHP Kenta Maeda (3-6, 6.14 ERA), who is on four days’ rest after allowing two unearned runs in 4⅓ innings of bulk relief on Aug. 28. Maeda has a 3.97 ERA in 34 innings as a relief pitcher this year.
- Padres RHP Joe Musgrove (4-4, 4.44 ERA) | Since returning from elbow problems, he has posted a 1.66 ERA in four starts and has 19 strikeouts and four walks in 21⅔ innings. Musgrove threw 94 pitches in his last start and has made two consecutive quality starts.
Tuesday: Out of
Wednesday
- Tigers RHP Keider Montero (4-6, 5.17 ERA) | The 24-year-old rookie has allowed 13 home runs and a 1.35 WHIP in his first 69⅔ innings in the major leagues. He is averaging 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Montero has made three good starts in 13 appearances, but has not finished above fifth in any of his last four starts (4.05 ERA).
- To be announced | This is the place for Padres RHP Michael King (11-8, 3.05 ERA), but Yu Darvish could be reinserted into the rotation during this series. The Padres are also watching King’s workload (150 ⅔ IP), so the order could be changed entirely.
Thursday
- Tigers RHP Casey Mize (2-6, 4.36 ERA) | He makes his 18th start after missing most of 2022 and all of 2023 due to Tommy John surgery. The 2018 No. 1 pick is peaking at six innings and is one start (6 IP, 4 ER) behind after returning from a hamstring strain.
- To be announced | If Darvish does not return to the Padres LHP rotation Martin Perez (4-5, 4.71 ERA) is expected to throw the final.
Training room
- Detroit: RHP Reese Olson (shoulder) threw a live batting practice on Saturday in his effort to return this year. The Tigers also have OF Wenceslaus Perez (oblique) on the list of short-term injured, while INF Javier Baez (hip surgery) and RHP Alex Faedo (shoulder) are among the players who will not return this season.
- San Diego: RHP Yu Darvish (groin, elbow) threw four controlled innings on Friday in Arizona and could return from the injured list this week. OF Fernando Tatis Jr. (Quad) is also pushing for a return in early September, while SS Ha-Seong Kim (shoulder) hits and throws, but has not yet thrown across the field.
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