Padres 3 Up, 3 Down: Team can hang with Dodgers

1. Cal Quantrill

How about the job that Cal Quantrill did in game one in a bases-loaded situation? The 25-year-old has been flirting with the starting rotation, primarily serving in long relief for now. There appears to be an open spot in the rotation after Joey Lucchesi was optioned down to the team’s alternate training site, and Quantrill is making every appearance count.

As noted, the Stanford product began the fourth inning, allowing back-to-back singles, hitting Chris Taylor, and the Dodgers looking to make it a big inning. He proceeded to strike out Matt Beaty and then got Edwin Rios to ground into a double play. Not long after, the Padres chipped away, adding two runs and taking game one.

2. Manny Machado

In year two of a massive ten-year deal, Manny Machado was expected to return to the Baltimore Orioles player that was a perennial MVP candidate. However, that wasn’t the case out of the gate. For whatever reason, Machado was having difficulties hitting fastballs with some bad luck included as well. In game two and the two clubs tied at 1-1, Machado launched a grand slam to dead center to give the Padres a commanding 5-1 lead.

3. Jake Cronenworth

Has anyone on the roster been more of a surprise this season than Jake Cronenworth? If not for expanded rosters (and a canceled minor league season), the Michigan product might be in Triple-A El Paso to start the season. Instead, he shined, replacing Eric Hosmer, who was out with an illness, at first base. Once Hosmer returned, Cronenworth began seeing regular time at second base, in favor of Jurickson Profar, who has been fading. With stellar defense and timely hits, the “Crone Zone” is becoming must-see tv.