{"id":409557,"date":"2026-07-23T15:56:16","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T15:56:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/409557\/"},"modified":"2026-07-23T15:56:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T15:56:16","slug":"padres-pregame-salvage-mode-as-kyle-hart-opens-against-braves-ace-chris-sale","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/409557\/","title":{"rendered":"Padres pregame: Salvage mode as Kyle Hart opens against Braves ace Chris Sale"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Padres (50-52) are again in salvage mode, this time against one of the best left-handers in the game in Thursday\u2019s 9:15 a.m. start (Padres.TV).<\/p>\n

They\u2019ve already lost two of three in Kansas City and two of three to start this four-game series against the Braves to start a crucial road trip ahead of the trade deadline.<\/p>\n

Wednesday\u2019s loss shaved their playoff odds down to 9.2% at Fangraphs.com. They are three games out of a wild-card spot with five teams ahead of them and will have to get the best of Chris Sale to split this four-game set.<\/p>\n

The Padres are countering with an opener (left-hander Kyle Hart) in front of right-hander Griffin Canning.<\/p>\n

Luis Rengifo (.578 OPS) homered in the ninth inning on Wednesday, his first in his brief time as a Padre, and will get a second straight start in the two-hole, this time in left field. It will be Rengifo\u2019s sixth start in the majors in left field and his first since 2023.<\/p>\n

Closing out the series. pic.twitter.com\/KNXKjwoxqK<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 23, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

A day after sitting against left-hander Martin Perez, Gavin Sheets (.729 OPS) is back in the lineup in the sixth-hole and as the designated hitter. Sheets homered off Sale last year.<\/p>\n

Shortstop Xander Bogaerts (.644 OPS) will bat fifth after spending the last two days in the eight-hole, Freddy Fermin (.529 OPS) will catch and bat seventh, followed by center fielder Jase Bowen (.376 OPS) and second baseman Jake Cronenworth (.581 OPS).<\/p>\n

Here is how the Braves (59-42) will line up for the series finale:<\/p>\n

Getaway day \u2708\ufe0f#BravesCountry<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/xKDeMJBugn<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Atlanta Braves (@Braves) July 23, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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

Padres LHP Kyle Hart (0-2, 5.66 ERA)<\/p>\n

He\u2019s opening in front of RHP Griffin Canning (1-8, 6.67 ERA). Hart allowed a run in two innings in his only other start this year. He\u2019s also curiously allowing a .587 OPS to righties and an .839 OPS to lefties. Meantime, Canning is allowing hitters a .281\/.371\/.443 batting line after allowing a .240\/.321\/.363 batting line last year with the Mets in an injury-shortened season. Canning hasn\u2019t completed five innings in any of his last six appearances (5.82 ERA). The Padres are 4-10 in Canning\u2019s appearances, which includes an extra-innings win in a game in which he allowed the Braves four runs in two-thirds of an inning behind an opener last month in San Diego.<\/p>\n

Here is how Canning has fared against current Braves:<\/p>\n

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Braves LHP Chris Sale (10-6, 2.06 ERA)<\/p>\n

The 10-time All-Star has a 1.35 ERA over his last five starts. Sale has a 1.80 ERA in six career starts against the Padres, including two no-decisions last year (12 IP, 4 ER).<\/p>\n

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

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