{"id":411203,"date":"2026-07-24T20:58:29","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T20:58:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/411203\/"},"modified":"2026-07-24T20:58:29","modified_gmt":"2026-07-24T20:58:29","slug":"padres-pregame-a-dh-day-for-manny-machado-sizing-up-two-hole-trouble","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/411203\/","title":{"rendered":"Padres pregame: A DH day for Manny Machado, sizing up two-hole trouble"},"content":{"rendered":"

Having lost two series to start the first road trip of the second half, the Padres limp into Miami with postseason odds sitting at 7.5%.<\/p>\n

Friday\u2019s first pitch is at 4:10 p.m. on Padres.TV.<\/p>\n

New series in Miami \ud83c\udf34 pic.twitter.com\/Q2zzxg0VYo<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

Manny Machado (.724 OPS) will serve as the DH for the 10th time this season and the first time since DHing back-to-back days heading into the All-Star break.<\/p>\n

That will allow Sung-Mun Song (.622 OPS) to get just his second start of the second half. Song spelled Xander Bogaerts at shortstop for a game in Atlanta.<\/p>\n

Song will bat ninth behind Bogaerts (.638 OPS), who is in the eight hole for just the second time since 2015.<\/p>\n

Gavin Sheets (.726 OPS) will bat seventh and play left field. Catcher Luis Campusano (.915 OPS) is in the sixth-hole, behind center fielder Jackson Merrill (.656 OPS).<\/p>\n

Second baseman Jake Cronenworth (.587 OPS) will bat second for the second time in four games. Before that, hadn\u2019t been in the two-hole since June 2.<\/p>\n

The two-hole has been a problem all year for the Padres as their collective OPS (.653) ranks 28th in the majors, ahead of only the Cubs (.647) and Dodgers (.644).<\/p>\n

Cronenworth\u2019s .804 OPS in 24 plate appearances is second best on the team, behind Luis Rengifo\u2019s .900 OPS across two games.<\/p>\n

The injured Samad Taylor (.799 OPS) is third-best so far in the two-hole, followed by Sheets (.708), Merrill (.653), the injured Miguel Andujar (.651), the injured Ramon Laureano (.650), Tatis (.625), Bogaerts (.408) and Machado (.111).<\/p>\n

Here is how the Marlins will line up to start the three-game series<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Fish \ud83d\udd19 home <\/p>\n

\ud83e\udd1d: @PNCBank<\/a>
\ud83d\udcfa: https:\/\/t.co\/pMAEOPHNJ8<\/a>
\ud83d\udc42: @MarlinsRadio<\/a>, @radiomambi710<\/a>, @1043wqam<\/a>
\u23f0: 7:10 PM ET
\ud83c\udfdf\ufe0f: Roof status: CLOSED#FightinFish<\/a>\u00a0\/\/ https:\/\/t.co\/ZrOdIbYDTI<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/iGcjWTPz6S<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Miami Marlins (@Marlins) July 24, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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

Padres RHP Germ\u00e1n M\u00e1rquez (4-2, 5.24 ERA)<\/p>\n

He\u2019s got a 4.20 ERA in four appearances since returning from the injured list and has topped out at five innings and 85 pitches. M\u00e1rquez has a 5.09 ERA in eight career starts against the Marlins, including three earned runs in five innings in a win last year.<\/p>\n

Here is how M\u00e1rquez has fared against current Marlins:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Marlins RHP Ryan Gusto (0-2, 4.70 ERA)<\/p>\n

The 27-year-old had allowed one earned run over his last 6\u2153 innings across three bullpen appearances since his last start (3 IP, 3 ER on July 2). The second-year pitcher has a 5.06 ERA across six starts (21\u2153 IP) and a 3.86 ERA in 9\u2153 innings out of the bullpen this year. He has topped out at 4 2\/3 innings and 91 pitches in his major league workload this year. This is Gusto\u2019s first appearance against the Padres.<\/p>\n

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

\"\"<\/p>\n

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