Game Preview #147: Ross Goes For Padres’ History

After a series-opening victory Friday night on the road against the division rival Arizona Diamondbacks, the San Diego Padres send the leader of their pitching staff, Tyson Ross, to the mound Saturday evening, looking history squarely in the face. Ross needs exactly 9 strikeouts in Saturday night’s outing to join the Padres’ 200-K club for a season. Former Padres’ hurlers Kevin Brown, Jake Peavy, and Clay Kirby remain the only members of the team’s 200-K club.

Even if Ross doesn’t accomplish the feat tonight against Arizona, he will easily accomplish it prior to the end of the season, barring injuries of course. Also, another exciting moment to keep in mind, is that Ross’ fellow rotation member, the hard-luck loser of the season, Ian Kennedy, is approaching 200 Ks as well. Once he surpassed the total, both he and Ross will be the only two teammates in club history to achieve the feat in the same season. It is also another knock on the Padres’ lineup that two excellent pitchers’ talents and efforts have been wasted on a lost season. [related-category}

The Diamondbacks, who are now without former Padres’ GM Kevin Towers, send Chase Anderson (8-6, 3.71 ERA) to the hill to take on the Padres. Since being called up from Double-A Mobile back in May, he has held his own for a D-Backs staff that has been crushed by injuries and ineffectiveness this season. Over his last three starts, covering 17 innings, Anderson has pitched to the tune of a 1-1 record, with an ERA of 3.71, with 19 Ks. In his brief big league career, Anderson has tossed 10 innings against San Diego, and is also 1-1, with an elevated ERA of 4.50 with 8 Ks. None of the current Padres have had any plate appearances against Anderson, so tonight will be a new experience for both.

Neither team has much left to play in 2014, so it’s a great opportunity to see what prospects are either on the fringe or are indeed big league-ready. For Kirk Gibson, he is most likely walking the plank at season’s end, while Bud Black‘s future has et to be determined. Sit back, grab a cold one, and enjoy the game of baseball.

Keep the Faith.