{"id":447453,"date":"2026-08-29T18:52:37","date_gmt":"2026-08-29T18:52:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/447453\/"},"modified":"2026-08-29T18:52:37","modified_gmt":"2026-08-29T18:52:37","slug":"padres-pregame-xander-bogaerts-sits-jake-cronenworth-fills-in-at-shortstop","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/447453\/","title":{"rendered":"Padres pregame: Xander Bogaerts sits, Jake Cronenworth fills in at shortstop"},"content":{"rendered":"

The poor luck that had dogged Xander Bogaerts before The Trop seemingly robbed him of a home run on Friday is detailed in Kevin Acee\u2019s newsletter this morning.<\/a><\/p>\n

If it\u2019s going to bite him again on Saturday, it will have to be off the bench as the 33-year-old veteran will give way to Jake Cronenworth at shortstop in Game 2 in Tampa Bay.<\/p>\n

First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. on Padres.TV.<\/p>\n

Today\u2019s starters. pic.twitter.com\/KUmYCGT3x9<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The day out of the lineup is Bogaerts\u2019 first since July 26, when Sung-Mun Song was on the roster to spell him at the position. But Song has been optioned to Triple-A El Paso get more at-bats, leaving Cronenworth to make his first start at shortstop since April 11, before his lengthy concussion absence.<\/p>\n

Cronenworth is hitting .269\/.337.360 with three homers in 51 games (.697 OPS) since returning from the injured list.<\/p>\n

Bogaerts is in the midst of the worst season of his 14-year career, as his .640 OPS as of Sunday is 20 points below his OPS in his first full season with the Red Sox in 2014.<\/p>\n

Bogaerts is a .260\/.328\/.388 hitter for a .716 OPS across four seasons so far with the Padres, nearly 100 points below his OPS (.814) across 10 seasons with Boston.<\/p>\n

The year began with Bogaerts flirting with a rebound as he had a .784 OPS through the first month of the season. But he\u2019d been below .595 in each subsequent month until improving a bit in August as he at least began to get on base.<\/p>\n

Through Friday, Bogaerts is hitting .213\/.341\/.347 through his first 91 plate appearances this month.<\/p>\n

With Cronenworth (.617 OPS) manning shortstop \u2014 and batting second as he\u2019s come to do against right-handers \u2014 Luis Rengifo (.638 OPS) will play second base and bat eighth and Dustin Harris (.660 OPS) will play left field and bat ninth.<\/p>\n

Gavin Sheets (.703 OPS) will serve as the DH and bat seventh, while Luis Campusano (.862 OPS) will bat sixth and catch right-hander Walker Buehler.<\/p>\n

Friday\u2019s loss shaved the Padres\u2019 lead over the Diamondbacks to a half-game in the race for the NL\u2019s third wild-card spot.<\/p>\n

Here is how the Rays will line up for Game 2:<\/p>\n

8\/29 \u26be Rays Lineup is Out!
Provided by mlbstartingnine (@DailyMLBLineups<\/a> for link)<\/p>\n

\ud83d\udcca Live Line: Rays -127 \u2022 O\/U 8.0#Rays<\/a> #RaysLineup<\/a> #MLB<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/2CnaT9MEkh<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 MLB Daily Lineups (@DailyMLBLineups) August 29, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

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

Padres RHP Walker Buehler (8-6, 4.63 ERA)<\/p>\n

He\u2019s thrown three straight quality starts (2.00 ERA, 18 IP), doubling his total for the season. Buehler has a 5.21 ERA in 12 starts on the road so far. He\u2019s made three career starts against the Rays, all last year (18 IP, 4.00 ERA).<\/p>\n

Here\u2019s how Buehler has fared against current Rays:<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

Rays RHP Nick Martinez (13-4, 2.93 ERA)<\/p>\n

The former Padre was a first-time All-Star this year and he leads qualifying starters with 1.3 walks per nine innings. His strikeout rate (5.3 per nine innings) is his lowest since returning from Japan. Martinez has a 4.50 ERA in 18 innings against his old team since leaving the Padres as a free agent after the 2023 season.<\/p>\n

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

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