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2 Padres players breaking out of early-season slumps, 1 who still has to turn it around

By Zachary Rotman |
San Diego Padres v Minnesota Twins
San Diego Padres v Minnesota Twins / Brace Hemmelgarn/GettyImages
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The San Diego Padres are in a tough spot. After winning consecutive series against the Giants and Reds, the team has hit another skid. The inconsistency this team continues to show is maddening.

After taking two of three from Cincinnati to begin the month of May, the Padres lost two of three at home to the Dodgers, lost two of three in Minnesota, and then got swept in Los Angeles against those same Dodgers. Now, returning home against one of the worst teams in baseball, San Diego lost another series against the lowly Royals.

The Padres have shown inconsistency in the month of May, but have also had some players who really needed to bounce back have better months which have helped them at least tread water.

Padres outfielder Juan Soto is officially back

Welcome to San Diego, Juan Soto! The imposter disguised as Juan Soto for the first part of his Padres tenure is gone, and now we can enjoy one of the best players in baseball wearing a Padres uniform.

Juan Soto's Padres tenure got off to an underwhelming start after being acquired by San Diego at the trade deadline. He slashed .236/.388/.390 with six home runs and 16 RBI in the regular season, and slashed .239/.314/.413 with two home runs and seven RBI in 12 postseason games. He was drawing his walks, but this version of Soto wasn't what Padres fans were expecting.

Things didn't get any better to start this season. In his first 26 games this season, the young outfielder slashed .178/.339/.344 with four home runs and nine RBI. Again, he was drawing his walks, but wasn't hitting for much power and wasn't even hitting singles. This is a .285 career hitter we're talking about here!

Thankfully, the last 17 games from Soto has been more of what Padres fans expected. He's slashing .377/.507/.689 with three home runs and 11 RBI since April 27, and looks fully comfortable now in San Diego. He's still drawing his walks, but has found other ways to chip in offensively. The Padres have really needed it.

There're still some major inconsistencies and flaws with this team, but Soto being the Soto of old will go a long way. We just have to hope this isn't just a three week thing.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael Wacha
San Diego Padres starting pitcher Michael Wacha / Kiyoshi Mio-USA TODAY Sports

Padres pitcher Michael Wacha is pitching much better after a disastrous month of April

In the month of April, Michael Wacha did not pitch well at all. The right-hander had an ERA of 6.75, and that was while pitching against mainly inferior competition. Ironically, his one good start came against a loaded Braves team.

Wacha wasn't signed to be an ace, but San Diego with their inconsistent offense needed more from him. In his three starts in the month of May, Wacha has looked like a different guy.

Wacha began his month with six scoreless innings against the Reds. He allowed just two hits and looked dominant all day. San Diego lost, but that wasn't close to his fault.

Wacha followed that up by allowing one run in six innings in Minnesota against a solid Twins lineup in a Padres victory. His most recent start was his best, as he took a no-hitter into the eighth inning against the Royals. He allowed just one hit in seven scoreless innings, walking one and striking out 11 batters.

I get that he pitched well against the Reds and Royals, but those are still teams you have to beat. It's not like San Diego swept those teams either.

If they get this version of Michael Wacha, their fourth or fifth starter, the team will be in such great shape. Obviously one run across three starts is unrealistic, but he's shaken his early-season struggles.

San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado
San Diego Padres third baseman Manny Machado / Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Padres third baseman Manny Machado still has to turn his season around

Did the Padres jump the gun on the Manny Machado extension? I don't think so, but it's very possible that he wouldn't opt-out now if these struggles continue. I don't know what has gotten into Machado, but he has to snap out of this season-long funk he's been in.

Machado endured one of the worst months of his career so far, as he had a .671 OPS in the month of April. He ended the month with a two home run game in Mexico City, so I thought the month of May might've been better. Turns out, it's been even worse.

Machado is slashing .217/.289/.326 with just one home run and eight RBI in 12 games this month. That is, to put it lightly, unacceptable from the superstar.

Machado has one hit in his last 20 at-bats without a home run. He has drawn two walks, but other than that, has been completely invisible.

In their huge series against the Dodgers, Machado went hitless in 11 at-bats. Facing a Dodgers team the Padres are trailing in the standings, Machado completely no-showed and watched his team get swept. To make matters worse, Machado was hit by a pitch in his first game following that series and hasn't played since. The Padres are hoping he avoids the Injured List but who knows at this point.

Will that hit-by-pitch spark him? Maybe. What I know is this version of Machado gets them nowhere. Machado hits second or third every night and has done mostly nothing all season. It has to change.

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