Padres Swept by Rays, Struggling Amid Injury Crisis

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres, once undefeated at home this season, were swept by the Tampa Bay Rays, losing 4-2 at Petco Park on Sunday. This defeat marked the Padres’ fourth consecutive loss and seventh in their last nine games.

Padres manager Mike Shildt addressed the team’s recent performance, emphasizing the downward shift since their promising start. The team won 14 of their first 17 games but has since gone 3-8 while scoring an average of just 2.1 runs per game. Key players like Jackson Merrill, Luis Arraez, and Jake Cronenworth remain sidelined, with the team’s recent 30-inning scoreless streak the longest for the franchise since 1981.

“It’s not as easy as we made it look, and it’s not as hard as it is now,” Shildt said. Despite a strong start, the Padres have been projected as an 82-win team by Baseball Prospectus’ PECOTA projections due to concerns about team depth.

The Rays, despite having a lower payroll and injuries to four outfielders, demonstrated resilience and skill, completing the sweep at Petco Park. On Sunday, Travis Jankowski, a former Padres outfielder, played a crucial role with two hits and a run scored.

Looking ahead, Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller may consider adding minor-league veterans or castoffs. The only player on the Padres’ 40-man roster who hasn’t been called up this season is catcher Luis Campusano, who boasts a .999 OPS in the Pacific Coast League but still needs to show he can consistently produce in the majors.

Shildt mentioned that Arraez, who is currently on the seven-day concussion injured list, and Jason Heyward, suffering from left knee inflammation, could be activated before the upcoming series against the San Francisco Giants. However, no decisions had been finalized at the time of the announcement.

Meanwhile, Merrill, Cronenworth, and another player, Brandon Lockridge, are all in Arizona to rehab injuries as they work towards returning to the team.

Xander Bogaerts had a decent outing on Sunday, going 1-for-3 with a walk and a run, but has not driven in a run in 16 games. The Padres need more offense to support their contact-heavy lineup, especially when Merrill returns.

The bullpen has been a highlight for the team, leading the majors with a 1.63 ERA. Despite offensive struggles, the Padres have only lost three games by more than three runs this season.

With Ryan Bergert called up from Triple-A El Paso and making his big-league debut over the weekend, the Padres continue to adapt in response to injuries. Other promising relief prospects include Francis Pena and Bradgley Rodriguez, who have both impressed during their time in the minors.