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For all that’s gone wrong this year, the Padres’ success against Atlanta has been a high point this year as they’ve already clinched the season series with two more games left in Atlanta.
Tuesday’s win shaved the Padres’ deficit in the NL wild-card chase to two games. The Padres still need to overtake five teams to get back into playoff position, but they’ve upped their postseason odds at Fangraphs.com to 11.6% heading into Wednesday’s 4:15 p.m. start.
The Padres (50-51) are facing a left-hander in Martin Perez, but even that isn’t enticing the team to move up shortstop Xander Bogaerts (.639 OPS) in the order much.
A day after hitting eighth for the first time since 2015, Bogaerts will hit seventh, between catcher Luis Campusano (.930 OPS) and second baseman Jake Cronenworth (.565 OPS).
Jase Bowen (.391 OPS) will get the start in left field and bat ninth, while Luis Rengifo (.568 OPS) will start at DH and in the two-hole.
Rengifo was released after hitting .205/.280/.254 in 57 games for the Brewers. The switch-hitter is 6-for-12 with an RBI, two walks and two strikeouts in four games (1.071 OPS) to start his stay with the Padres.
Fernando Tatis Jr. (.752 OPS) will lead off, while Manny Machado (.727 OPS), Ty France (.890 OPS) and Jackson Merrill (.646 OPS) will occupy the Nos. 3-5 spots.
The Padres have won four of the first five meetings this year with Atlanta.
Here is how the Braves (58-42) will line up for Game 3:
Wednesday’s pitching matchup
Padres RHP Michael King (6-7, 3.34 ERA)
The Padres are 1-2 in his three starts in July despite King’s 2.12 ERA (17 IP) this month. He beat the Braves with seven shutout innings last month at Petco Park and has a 2.03 ERA in three regular-season starts against Atlanta. King also beat them with 12 strikeouts over seven shutout innings in Game 1 of the 2024 NL Wild Card Series.
Here is how King has fared against current Braves:
Braves LHP Martin Perez (6-6, 3.54 ERA)
The 35-year-old veteran is returning from a forearm injury to make this start. He had a 7.43 ERA over three starts before going on the injured list. That includes allowing three runs in four innings in a loss to the Padres in San Diego on June 24.
Here is how Perez has fared against current Padres:
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