Sports

Padres pregame: Seeking a sweep as Xander Bogaerts returns to lineup

A day after an off-day, Xander Bogaerts is back in the lineup as the Padres seek a sweep of the Sacramento Athletics.

Sunday's first pitch is at 1:10 p.m. on Padres.TV.

Bogarts (.690 OPS) is hitless in his last three games as his OPS has dipped below .700 for the first time since April 12. The 33-year-old shortstop had a .784 OPS through the first month of the season and has a .537 OPS through 20 games in May.

He is also hitting just .143/.184/.143 over a 10-game stretch without an extra-base hit.

Bogaerts will return to shortstop and bat fifth on Sunday, between third baseman Manny Machado (.612 OPS) and center fielder Jackson Merrill (.606 OPS).

Bogaerts isn't the only Padre begging for an extra-base hit.

Fernando Tatis Jr. (.595 OPS) doesn't have better than a single over his last 16 games, a stretch in which he's hitting .211/.318/.211.

Tatis will man second base for an eighth straight game and hit leadoff.

Designated hitter Miguel Andujar (.791 OPS) will bat second, followed by Gavin Sheets (.847 OPS), who is starting in left field as Ramón Laureano (.682 OPS) gets the start in right field.

Ty France (.802 OPS) will play first base and bat eighth, while Rodolfo Durán (.611 OPS) will get the start behind the plate with right-hander Michael King.

A sweep of the A's would be the Padres' fourth sweep of the season.

Herer is how Sacramento (26-26) will line up for the finale:

Sunday’s pitching matchup

Athletics RHP Luis Medina (1-1, 2.41 ERA)

Manager Mark Kotsay is beginning the game with an opener as Medina has topped out at 2 2/3 innings in relief work. This spot in the rotation belongs to LHP Jacob Lopez (3-2, 6.14 ERA), who has allowed 11 homers in 44 innings and has nearly as many walks (30) as strikeouts (32). Lopez has yet to complete six innings in a start this year. This would be his first career appearance against the Padres if he indeed is the bulk arm.

Four Padres have history with Lopez:

  • OF Nick Castellanos (0-for-3, K)
  • 1B Ty France (0-for-1, HBP)
  • OF Ramón Laureano (0-for-2, K)
  • C Freddy Fermin (0-for-2, 2 Ks)

Padres RHP Michael King (4-2, 2.31 ERA)

He's coming off his best start of the season, striking out nine over seven shutout innings to beat the Dodgers. King has allowed two or fewer runs in eight of his 10 starts. He has a 3.75 ERA in 12 career innings against the Dodgers. He beat them with three runs in 5 ⅔ innings in a start last year in Sacramento.

Here is how King has fared against current Athletics:

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