Four All-Stars Reunite for Yu Darvish’s Return – San Diego Union-Tribune

On By Vaseline

The Padres won’t be complete until Ha Seong Kim returns from his shoulder injury, but Wednesday’s lineup is their best yet since their post-All-Star break surge:

For the first time since June 21, all four All-Star hitters will be in the lineup as the Padres resume their series against the Detroit Tigers.

The first pitch on Wednesday is at 6:40 PM

After a day off on Monday, Jurickson Profar is back in the line-up and in the three-hole as Fernando Tatis jr. will bat second behind the designated hitter Luis Arraez.

Profar started the All-Star Game as a left fielder and Tatis would have been in that lineup had he not suffered a stress reaction in his right thigh. Arraez sat out the match to rest his thumb, while the midfielder Jackson Merrill was selected as a reserve.

Merrill will start seventh on Thursday and play center field, the last time the Padres have had all four in the lineup since Tatis left that game on June 21. He went on the injured list afterward, but returned Monday and went 0-for-4 on a day that included Profar for the first time since June 22.

The Padres still managed to go 38-21 before Tatis’ return on Monday and hold a half-game lead over the Diamondbacks in the race for the NL’s top wild-card spot.

Wednesday is also the year Yu Darvish’s back in the rotation as he starts a game for the first time since May 29. As has been the case for all 11 of his starts this season, Luis Campusano stands behind the plate and is the eighth batter.

To make room for Darvish, left-handed Tom Cosgrove was sent back to Triple-A El Paso.

Here’s how the Tigers (70-69) line up for Game 2:

Wednesday’s pitching matchup

RHP Keider Montero of the Tigers (4-6, 5.17 ERA)

The 24-year-old rookie has allowed 13 homers and a 1.35 WHIP in his first 69⅔ innings in the majors. He’s averaging 7.5 strikeouts per nine innings. Montero has three quality starts in 13 appearances, but hasn’t gotten past fifth in any of his last four starts (4.05 ERA).

This is Montero’s first appearance against someone from the Padres roster.

Padres RHP Yu Darvish (4-3, ERA 3.20)

The 38-year-old is making his first start since May 29 after being sidelined with groin and elbow injuries and spending time on the limited list due to a personal matter. Darvish has allowed nine earned runs in his last two starts (8⅔ IP). Darvish has a 3.35 ERA in eight career starts against the Tigers, the last coming in 2022 (7 IP, 2 ER).

Only three Tigers have a history with Darvish:

  • INF Zack McKinstry (0-for-4, 3 Ks, HBP)
  • BY Riley Greene (0-for-4, 3 Ks)
  • INF Matt Vierling (0-for-2)

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