The loss on Saturday snapped a six-game winning streak and dropped the Padres back into a three-way tie with the Diamondbacks and Phillies for the NL’s final two wild-card spots.
The Padres (66-58) can still claim a third straight series win, but they could have to navigate weather on top of the Cleveland Guardians.
Rain is in the forecast and could impact Sunday’s 10:40 a.m. start time on Padres.TV.
Sunday morning baseball. pic.twitter.com/tLZ1ARC8XM
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 16, 2026
Manny Machado (.704 OPS) will get a DH day amid an August swoon. He is hitting .204/.271/.222 with one extra-base hit in 14 games so far in August.
Luis Rengifo (.637 OPS) will start for him at third base and bat sixth, followed by Gavin Sheets (.700 OPS), who is in left field. Shortstop Xander Bogaerts (.649 OPS) will bat eighth and Freddy Fermin (.579 OPS) will catch and bat ninth.
Here is how the Guardians (60-64) will line up for the rubber match:
Here’s the #Guardians lineup for thier series finale vs the Padres:
Kwan CF
DeLauter RF
Ramírez 3B
Adell LF
Lowe 1B
Hoskins DH
Bazzana 2B
Hedges C
Rocchio SS
Bibee SP#GuardsBall x @WEWS
— Mason Horodyski (@MasonHorodyski) August 16, 2026
Sunday’s pitching matchup
Padres RHP Casey Mize (4-7, 3.38 ERA)
The former Tiger rebounded in his second start with the Padres, striking out six while allowing two runs on five hits and two walks over six innings in a no-decision. The previous start (3⅓ IP, 8 ER) was the worst of his career. Mize has a 2.93 ERA in five career starts against the Guardians, include a loss this year (6⅔ IP, 2 ER).
Here is how Mize has fared against current Guardians:
Guardians RHP Tanner Bibee (4-12, 3.99 ERA)
The Cal State Fullerton product has a 3.70 ERA in 642 ⅔ innings since making his debut in 2023. Bibee has faced the Padres twice in his career, a loss in 2023 (4 IP, 5 ER) and a win in 2024 (5⅔ IP, 0 ER).
Here is how Bibee has fared against current Padres:
