Padres: Three players stock up/stock down in series loss to Rockies

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(Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images) /

The Padres lost a difficult series in Colorado, but there were three players who saw their stock rise and fall in the three-game set.

Having won their first two series on the abbreviated season, the Padres had their first true test on the road against a Rockies team that was playing above expectations. And while the matchup didn’t live up to the record-breaking series last June, in which the two teams combined to score 92 runs, it was still an important three-game set for both clubs.

Friday night’s game was indicative of just how this series was going to play out. With the Padres down to their final out, Fernando Tatis Jr. sent a game-tying solo blast over the left-field fence, and Tommy Pham‘s three-run blast moments later secured the victory. However, that’s all the Padres would leave Colorado with, as the Rockies took Game 2 behind a strong start from Kyle Freeland.

Former Padres legend Matt Kemp absolutely killed his former squad, hitting a 457-foot home run into the right-center field stands. The Padres could only muster one run, a solo blast off the bat of Trent Grisham. Speaking of Kemp, he struck again on Sunday, sending a two-run homer down the left-field line and clearing the wall.

Staying with the Rockies, Charlie Blackmon has absolutely killed the Padres throughout his career, and that was no different in the three-game set. The Rockies outfielder went 7-for-13 with seven RBI in the series, including a devastating two-run double in the finale.

As for the Padres, they will head back home to open up a three-game series against the rival Dodgers, but let’s review players who saw their stock both rise and fall against the Rockies.

(Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

Tommy Pham

Pham entered the series batting .240 but had positive energy coming into Colorado, having gone 3-for-5 with two RBI in the finale against San Francisco on Thursday. As noted, he played hero in the opener, smashing a three-run blast off Rockies closer Wade Davis in the top half of the ninth inning. In losing efforts, he went 3-for-6 with two walks in the final two games, raising his batting average to a robust .306.

Wil Myers

Did Wil Myers and Andy Green‘s reported issues really have legs? With the latter out of the picture, Myers has performed much better, bringing his batting average up to .257 on the young season. With the Padres trailing 9-2 on Sunday, Myers hit a bases-clearing, opposite-field triple, closing the game to a four-run deficit. For those, who turned it off early, Myers triple hit the top of the fence, landing on the warning track and bouncing back towards the wall.

Jake Cronenworth

Is there anyone else on the roster who needs to make the most of their playing time right now? With Eric Hosmer landing on the ten-day injured list, Jake Cronenworth figures to get plenty of looks on the infield and potentially at DH.

Trending. Tatis Jr. must be extended for life. light

The former Rays farmhand went two-for-four on Friday night, and 1-for-2 on Sunday, bringing his average up to .400. Should he play well enough, the Padres may need to ask themselves if he can unseat Jurickson Profar at second base.

Jurickson Profar

I really like Jurickson Profar‘s attitude and the chemistry that he brings to the Padres, but at some point, he needs to start hitting. The 27-year-old has gotten off to a difficult start this year, with just three hits in 32 at-bats. He went 0-for-13 in the series with three strikeouts while wasting critical at-bats in the middle of the Padres lineup. I suspect that he’ll remain at second base for now. But when Hosmer returns to the lineup, it’ll be interesting to see if he sees less playing time.

Joey Lucchesi

Did Joey Lucchesi make his last significant start for the Padres on Saturday? On Sunday, the Padres called up Jerad Eickhoff, who is expected to bolster the bullpen, but the team needs to do something about the rotation. Lucchesi has an 8.44 ERA in just 5.1 innings of work this year. He’s occupied the fourth spot in the rotation, with Cal Quantrill piggy-backing his efforts. However, it’s painfully obvious that it’s not working out. Is it time for the Padres to give MacKenzie Gore a look?

Matt Strahm

The once reliable lefty looks he’s pitching batting practice lately. Last year, Matt Strahm was used for more than one inning on countless occasions, but he’s struggled in four appearances thus far. The 28-year-old sports a 4.91 ERA, and he blew the save for Garrett Richards on Friday, allowing two hits and a solo blast to Trevor Story.

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Coming into the series, Strahm had a rough go of it against San Francisco, allowing a walk-off home run to Mike Yastrzemski on Thursday. The bullpen was expected to be a dominant force this year, and it has looked anything but, thus far.

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