{"id":264286,"date":"2026-04-12T18:16:09","date_gmt":"2026-04-12T18:16:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/264286\/"},"modified":"2026-04-12T18:16:09","modified_gmt":"2026-04-12T18:16:09","slug":"fernando-tatis-jr-again-at-2nd-ramon-laureano-settling-in-as-leadoff-hitter","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/264286\/","title":{"rendered":"Fernando Tatis Jr. again at 2nd, Ram\u00f3n Laureano settling in as leadoff hitter"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Padres seem to be settling on a leadoff hitter. Their second baseman the last two days, however, is merely a function of rotating off-days for veterans.<\/p>\n

Fernando Tatis Jr. is starting a second straight game at second base as Jake Cronenworth gets a day off against Rockies left-hander Kyle Freeland.<\/p>\n

Sunday\u2019s first pitch is at 1:10 p.m.<\/p>\n

Military Sunday. pic.twitter.com\/ypcZ0lCsSD<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Tatis started at second base on Saturday for the first time in his career, as Xander Bogaerts got the day off and Cronenworth \u2014 the regular backup at shortstop last year \u2014 got his first start at shortstop. Bogaerts is back in Sunday\u2019s lineup, Tatis is at second base and Bryce Johnson is getting the start in right field.<\/p>\n

After Saturday\u2019s game, Padres manager Craig Stammen kind of foreshadowed a second straight start at second base for Tatis<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Especially if you knew the Rockies were throwing a left-hander and Cronenworth and Tatis were the only Padres not to receive a day off yet this season.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think (Tatis) is going to play right field most days,\u201d Stammen said. \u201cBut kind of like what I said earlier today, when Xander needs a day off, or when Jake needs a day off, you know, he\u2019s probably our best option to play second base at the moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tatis went 3-for-4 with a double on Saturday while batting second behind Ram\u00f3n Laureano, who is leading off for the seventh time in eight games.<\/p>\n

Saturday was his best effort yet as Laureano went 2-for-3 with a double, a homer and two walks atop the order.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou\u2019re just trying to find someone that\u2019s not going fall into a slump when we put him in the leadoff spot, which is kind of what\u2019s happened so far this season until Ram\u00f3n,\u201d Stammen said. \u201cBut we feel really good about him either against right-handed or left-handed pitching. He\u2019s usually \u2026 pretty good at that and so far this season, he\u2019s kind of handled both sides really well. He also brings a little bit of an attitude, a little bit of an ankle-biter kind of guy that the guys love in the dugout and in the clubhouse.<\/p>\n

\u201cSo he\u2019s perfect for us (at) leadoff.\u201d<\/p>\n

Laureano\u2019s busy day atop the order on Saturday lifted the Padres\u2019 leadoff hitters OPS to .543 \u2014 now 27th in the majors instead of last. The league average is still .725 but Laureano is now hitting .240\/.321\/.440 for a .761 OPS atop the order after hits in his last three starts in that spot.<\/p>\n

With a left-hander on the mound, center fielder Jackson Merrill is the lone left-handed hitter in the lineup as Ty France (.258 OPS) will replace Gavin Sheets at first base and bat seventh, between designated hitter Nick Castellanos (.617 OPS) and the switch-hitting Johnson (.472 OPS).<\/p>\n

Freddy Fermin (.514 OPS) will catch right-hander Nick Pivetta and bat ninth.<\/p>\n

The Padres (9-6), who are using their 16th different lineup in 16 games<\/a>, have won four straight games. Their nine wins entering Sunday are tied for the second most in the majors behind the Dodgers (11).<\/p>\n

Here is how the Rockies (6-9) will line up for the series finale:<\/p>\n

Sunday starters \ud83d\udc47 pic.twitter.com\/uipxFuEofe<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Colorado Rockies (@Rockies) April 12, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Sunday\u2019s pitching matchup<\/p>\n

Rockies LHP Kyle Freeland (1-1, 2.30 ERA)<\/p>\n

He leads the majors with four hit batters but has a 13-to-4 strikeout-to-walk ratio to start the season. Freeland is coming off his first quality start of the season at home against Houston (6\u2153 IP, 1 ER, 5 Ks). Freeland has a 4.46 ERA in 135\u2153 career innings against the Padres. He had a 3.46 ERA in two starts against them last year.<\/p>\n

Here is how Freeland has fared against current Padres:<\/p>\n

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Padres RHP Nick Pivetta (1-2, 5.54 ERA)<\/p>\n

He has a 1.80 ERA, 16 strikeouts and three walks over his last two starts but hasn\u2019t yet turned in a quality start. Pivetta has a 9.64 ERA in 32\u2154 career innings against the Rockies \u2014 due in large part to a 13.05 ERA at Coors Field \u2014 but he had a 4.24 ERA in three starts against the Rockies last year.<\/p>\n

Here is how Pivetta has fared against current Rockies:<\/p>\n

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