San Diego Padres Look to Richard to Get Things Back on Track

The San Diego Padres look to avenge last night’s 4-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves tonight at SunTrust Park with Clayton Richard on the mound.

The San Diego Padres have gone 23-18 since May 1 and, although they’ve beaten up on some bad teams during that stretch, they’ve also played up to their competition at times.

They’ve gone two-and-two so far against arguably one of the best teams in the National League in the Atlanta Braves this year and look to get back in the win column in SunTrust Park tonight.

Clayton Richard will take the hill for the Friars. He’s got a 4.40 earned-run average this season with a 5-6 record. This year has gotten incrementally better for the 34-year-old lefty. After pitching to a 6.21 earned-run average over his first seven starts, Richard has been terrific in his seven starts since.

Since his outing on May 8 versus the Nationals at home, Richard has gone 4-2 with a 3.04 earned-run average, 39 strikeouts, and just ten bases-on-balls. Talk about pulling a one-eighty. Along with Tyson Ross, the Padres have had two solid, veteran starters above their interchangeable back-end starters.

Ross, 31, has a 3.51 earned-run average and a 5-4 record in fourteen starts this season. Whether one of them, both of them, or neither of them get traded before the July 31 trade deadline is yet to be seen. But until then, let’s hope the Friars take advantage of the benefits of having two proven guys throwing darts out there.

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Padres’ offense looks to get back on track

The San Diego Padres managed to rack up eight hits in last night’s loss to the Braves but left eleven men on base and were never able to capitalize.

The Friars still lead the major leagues with their .286 average with two outs and runners in scoring position and are fourth in MLB with a .265 average in all RISP scenarios.

Unfortunately, there will be nights that the cookie simply doesn’t crumble that way. Last night was one of those nights.

Manuel Margot is hitting .364 with a .909 OPS and Cory Spangenberg is hitting .318/.348/.455 over their last six games. Eric Hosmer is slashing .321/.345/.607 and Jose Pirela is hitting .304 over their last seven games.

This team is gelling. Soon, Wil Myers and Austin Hedges will return, fortifying this team’s bench even further and adding a variety of unique matchup wrinkles that Andy Green can tinker with.

Next: Austin Allen Getting Close

Whichever way you’d like to slice it, the San Diego Padres are keeping things interesting. Let’s enjoy it.