The poor luck that had dogged Xander Bogaerts earlier than The Trop seemingly robbed him of a house run on Friday is detailed in Kevin Acee’s newsletter this morning.
If it’s going to chew him once more on Saturday, it must be off the bench because the 33-year-old veteran will give option to Jake Cronenworth at shortstop in Game 2 in Tampa Bay.
First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. on Padres.TV.
Today’s starters. pic.twitter.com/KUmYCGT3x9
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 29, 2026
The time out of the lineup is Bogaerts’ first since July 26, when Sung-Mun Song was on the roster to spell him at the place. But Song has been optioned to Triple-A El Paso get extra at-bats, leaving Cronenworth to make his first begin at shortstop since April 11, earlier than his prolonged concussion absence.
Cronenworth is hitting .269/.337.360 with three homers in 51 video games (.697 OPS) since coming back from the injured checklist.
Bogaerts is in the midst of the worst season of his 14-year profession, as his .640 OPS as of Sunday is 20 factors beneath his OPS in his first full season with the Red Sox in 2014.
Bogaerts is a .260/.328/.388 hitter for a .716 OPS throughout 4 seasons thus far with the Padres, practically 100 factors beneath his OPS (.814) throughout 10 seasons with Boston.
The 12 months started with Bogaerts flirting with a rebound as he had a .784 OPS via the primary month of the season. But he’d been beneath .595 in every subsequent month till bettering a bit in August as he at least started to get on base.
Through Friday, Bogaerts is hitting .213/.341/.347 via his first 91 plate appearances this month.
With Cronenworth (.617 OPS) manning shortstop — and batting second as he’s come to do towards right-handers — Luis Rengifo (.638 OPS) will play second base and bat eighth and Dustin Harris (.660 OPS) will play left area and bat ninth.
Gavin Sheets (.703 OPS) will function the DH and bat seventh, whereas Luis Campusano (.862 OPS) will bat sixth and catch right-hander Walker Buehler.
Friday’s loss shaved the Padres’ lead over the Diamondbacks to a half-game in the race for the NL’s third wild-card spot.
Here is how the Rays will line up for Game 2:
8/29 Rays Lineup is Out!
Provided by mlbstartingnine (@DailyMLBLineups for hyperlink)Live Line: Rays -127 • O/U 8.0#Rays #RaysLineup #MLB pic.twitter.com/2CnaT9MEkh
— MLB Daily Lineups (@DailyMLBLineups) August 29, 2026
Saturday’s pitching matchup
Padres RHP Walker Buehler (8-6, 4.63 ERA)
He’s thrown three straight high quality begins (2.00 ERA, 18 IP), doubling his complete for the season. Buehler has a 5.21 ERA in 12 begins on the highway thus far. He’s made three profession begins towards the Rays, all final 12 months (18 IP, 4.00 ERA).
Here’s how Buehler has fared towards present Rays:
Rays RHP Nick Martinez (13-4, 2.93 ERA)
The former Padre was a first-time All-Star this 12 months and he leads qualifying starters with 1.3 walks per 9 innings. His strikeout fee (5.3 per 9 innings) is his lowest since coming back from Japan. Martinez has a 4.50 ERA in 18 innings towards his previous staff since leaving the Padres as a free agent after the 2023 season.
Here is how Martinez has fared towards present Padres:
