Xander

Bogaerts

Merrill is hitting second for the first time since late July as San Diego attempts to stave off elimination and begin climbing out of an 0-2 deficit as the best-of-five series shifts to Petco Park. It’ll be Ethan Salas handling the catching duties for the third time in five postseason contests with Gavin Sheets getting the nod at DH. Here’s the full lineup: Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF), Merrill (CF), Manny Machado (3B), Ty France (1B), Salas (C), Sheets (DH), Xander Bogaerts (SS), Dustin Harris (LF) and Jake Cronenworth (2B).

The Padres are rolling with the same starting nine that they did in Game 1, the only change is that Salas and Xander Bogaerts have swapped lineup spots and Luis Campusano will do the catching with Salas serving as the DH. Here’s how they’ll line up against Brewers’ right-hander Logan Henderson on Sunday: Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF), Dustin Harris (LF), Manny Machado (3B), Ty France (1B), Jackson Merrill (CF), Salas (DH), Xander Bogaerts (SS), Luis Campusano (C) and Jake Cronenworth (2B).

Salas earns his second consecutive nod behind the plate as the Padres kick off a best-of-five matchup against a powerhouse Brewers squad. The 20-year-old prodigy, who is a revelation from a defensive standpoint, has gone 1-for-2 with an RBI in the postseason. Here’s the full lineup: Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF), Dustin Harris (LF), Manny Machado (3B), Ty France (1B), Jackson Merrill (CF), Xander Bogaerts (SS), Salas (C), Luis Campusano (DH) and Jake Cronenworth (2B).

Salas will be the youngest player in baseball history to catch a postseason game when he makes his playoff debut at just 20 years old in this one. The Padres have a chance to punch their ticket to the NLDS after scoring eight runs during a Game 1 blowout victory on Tuesday night at Petco Park. Here’s the full lineup: Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF), Dustin Harris (LF), Manny Machado (3B), Ty France (1B), Jackson Merrill (CF), Xander Bogaerts (SS), Salas (C), Austin Hays (DH) and Jake Cronenworth (2B).

The biggest surprise here is sparkplug Samad Taylor getting a chance to face Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd in the second spot in the order with Dustin Harris presumably set to come off the bench in his place once Chicago goes to the bullpen. Here’s the full lineup as San Diego kicks off the postseason at Petco Park with Michael King on the hill: Tatis Jr. (RF), Taylor (LF), Manny Machado (3B), Ty France (1B), Jackson Merrill (CF), Austin Hays (DH), Xander Bogaerts (SS), Jake Cronenworth (2B) and Luis Campusano (C).

The Padres appear to be mailing it in a bit with nothing to play for on Sunday, despite the fact that the Diamondbacks are still alive for a Wild Card berth. It’s surprising that Tatis especially isn’t in there, as he’s just two stolen bases away from 40 for the season. Along with Tatis, Xander Bogaerts and Jackson Merrill are also sitting for the Padres on Sunday.

Bogaerts got the homer and the triple in the second and the double in the fourth. That left him two chances needing only a single for the cycle, but he struck out in both of his remaining at-bats. Bogaerts’ homer was his 12th, giving him one more than he had each of the last two seasons. His triple, a gift from Zac Veen in right field, was his first since July 27. 2024.

Unlike Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., Bogaerts didn’t homer tonight. He did, however, deliver the hardest-hit ball of the game with his 112-mph single in the eighth. It topped his previous season-high EV by one mph, and it was the third-hardest ball he’s come up with in four years in San Diego. Bogaerts has had a rough season, but his exit velocity numbers are all right around or a little better than his career averages. We don’t feel great about him being signed for seven (seven!) more years after this one, but there’s a decent chance his numbers will bounce back some in 2027.

Bogaerts’ two-RBI single came on a hard-hit grounder against Drew Rasmussen in the top of the fourth. The 33-year-old also picked up his 18th steal, giving him a good chance to beat his previous career high of 20, set last season. The speed has been much needed from a fantasy perspective, as his batting average has collapsed to .217 this season. Bogaerts hasn’t hit below .260 since he was a 21-year-old in 2014. He also hasn’t batted in the upper half of San Diego’s lineup since the first series out of the All-Star break this year, a concerning development for a player signed through 2033.

X-rays after the game proved negative. Bogaerts was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk before departing Tuesday.