Padres on deck: Phillies surging in post-Girardi era

Philadelphia Phillies (36-34, 3^rd in NL East)

The Phillies are 14-5 since firing Joe Girardi and installing Rob Thomson as the interim manager and remain playoff hopeful. They are 8 ½ games off the Mets’ pace in the division but just three games out of a wild-card spot. The Phillies lost two of three to the Padres last month in Philadelphia before Girardi was replaced.
 (Patrick Semansky / Associated Press)

San Diego Padres (44-27, 2^nd in NL West)

The Padres snapped a three-game skid with a three-game sweep of the Diamondbacks and are in a virtual tie for first place in the division, just percentage points behind the Dodgers. In the majors, only Yankees (51) and the Mets (45) have more wins than the Padres.
 (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)

Trending: Philadelphia

The Phillies will present some issues for the Padres’ pitching staff as they rank sixth in the majors in runs (334) and slugging (.415) despite a .247 team average (12^th). OF Kyle Schwarber (.828 OPS) leads the team with 19 homers, followed by DH Bryce Harper (15 HRs, 1.010 OPS) and 1B Rhys Hoskins (13 HRs, .806 OPS). Harper, who has not played the field since mid-April and missed the previous Padres series because of his balky elbow, leads the team with 48 RBIs. In the bullpen, RH Corey Knebel (3.49 ERA) was 11-for-15 in save chances before losing the job. Former Padres LHP Brad Hand (2.21 ERA) and RHP Seranthony Dominguez (1.73 ERA) are options to close.
 (Patrick Semansky / Associated Press)

Trending: San Diego

The Padres offense continues to trend up in June (.270/.340/.451), with C Jorge Alfaro leading the team with a 1.069 OPS in 13 games and 2B Jake Cronenworth right behind him with a 1.029 OPS. Both Alfaro and Cronenworth have four homers this month, while DH Luke Voit leads the team with six homers this month (.871 OPS). 1B Eric Hosmer, however, has a .529 OPS, although he did homer on Tuesday for the first time since May 11, a stretch in which he was hitting .202/.259/.234. LHP Taylor Rogers (2.79 ERA) leads the majors with 21 saves, while RHP Steven Wilson (3.67 ERA) has allowed one earned run in his last 9 1/3 innings.
 (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)

Game 1: Phillies LHP Ranger Suarez (5-4, 4.43 ERA)

The 26-year-old’s strikeout-to-walk ratio has dropped from 3.24 in 106 innings last year to 1.86 in his first year as a full-time starter. Suarez has completed six or more innings in just four of his 13 starts this year. He’s thrown 3 2/3 shutout innings over three career relief appearances against the Padres, including striking out three in 2 2/3 innings last year.
 (Patrick Semansky / Associated Press)

Game 1: Padres RHP Joe Musgrove (8-0, 1.59 ERA)

He’s making his first start since hitting the COVID list last Friday. The Padres are 11-1 in Musgrove’s starts this year and he is 12-for-12 in quality starts, striking out 81 batters against 17 walks. Musgrove has a 1.29 ERA in 21 career innings against the Phillies, including six innings of one-run ball in a no-decision last year.
 (Charles Rex Arbogast / Associated Press)

Game 2: Phillies RHP Aaron Nola (4-4, 3.11 ERA)

Austin Nola’s little brother has struck out 99 against 11 walks in 89 2/3 innings to start the year. He is coming off eight shutout innings over the weekend in Washington, one of eight quality starts in 14 trips to the mound. He has a 3.38 ERA in seven career starts against the Padres.
 (Nick Wass / Associated Press)

Game 2: Padres LHP MacKenzie Gore (4-3, 3.64 ERA)

The 23-year-old rookie has allowed 14 earned runs over his last 6 1/3 innings, all against the Rockies. Gore threw three shutout innings in relief against the Phillies in May, striking out four and scattering three hits and no walks.
 (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)

Game 3: Phillies TBA

The Phillies haven’t announced a starter for either of the last two games of the series, but RHP Zach Eflin (knee) threw a bullpen on Wednesday and could make Saturday’s start.
 (Nick Wass / Associated Press)

Game 3: Padres LHP Blake Snell (0-4, 5.46 ERA)

The Padres have yet to win any of his starts. Snell made his 2022 debut in Philadelphia, striking out five and allowing three runs on three hits and three walks in 3 2/3 innings. He has a 4.26 ERA in three career starts against the Phillies. Snell is averaging 5.2 walks per nine innings.
 (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)

Game 4: Phillies TBA

Interim manager Rob Thomson has not announced a starter for the series finale.
 (Nick Wass / Associated Press)

Game 4: Padres RHP Yu Darvish (7-3, 3.17 ERA)

The Padres have won his last three starts (22 IP, 2 ER) and are 9-4 with Darvish on the mound. He beat the Phillies with seven shutout innings in May and is 2-1 with a 1.88 ERA, 46 strikeouts and an 0.91 WHIP in six career starts (38 1/3 IP) against Philadelphia.
 (Gregory Bull / Associated Press)

Trainer’s room: Philadelphia

2B Jean Segura (pictured) had surgery on a fractured right finger early this month and won’t return until August at the earliest. He’s on the 60-day injured list, along with LHP Ryan Sherriff (biceps), LHP Kent Emanuel (elbow), LHP JoJo Romero (Tommy John) and RHP Sam Coonrod (shoulder). INF Nick Maton, the younger brother of former Padres reliever Phil Maton, is on the 10-day injured list with a shoulder sprain.
 (Matt Slocum / Associated Press)

Trainer’s room: San Diego

3B Manny Machado (pictured) exited Sunday’s game with a left ankle sprain, but the Padres have delayed a move to the injured list as it has responded well to treatment. SS Fernando Tatis Jr. (wrist) still has not been cleared to face pitching, but he’s begun testing his wrist with some swinging. RHP Robert Suarez (knee) has begun playing catch, as has RHP Pierce Johnson (elbow), while LHP Drew Pomeranz (flexor tendon) has upped the intensity of his bullpens to 95 percent.
 (David Zalubowski / Associated Press)