Tatis went 0-for-2 with two walks, one stolen base and one run scored in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Dodgers.
Tatis' power drought is nearing a month -- he's now gone 26 games without a homer. He's batting .263 (26-for-99) in that span, adding 11 doubles, nine RBI, 21 runs scored and four steals. That batting average is close to his mark for the full season (.266), and he's also sporting an .805 OPS, which has remained fairly steady despite the recent lack of power. Tatis has also racked up 26 steals on 32 attempts, 52 RBI, 90 runs scored, 25 doubles and two triples through 127 contests as the Padres' primary leadoff hitter.
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Padres' Adrian Morejon: Secures third save
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Morejon struck out two over 1.1 perfect innings to earn the save in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Dodgers.
Morejon got the last out in the top of the eighth inning and remained in the game for the ninth after the Padres padded their lead. Both Robert Suarez and Mason Miller had pitched Thursday and Friday, so Morejon likely would have been in contention for a more conventional save opportunity anyway. He's on a 10-inning scoreless streak with a 10:2 K:BB in that span. For the season, Morejon has maintained a stellar 1.81 ERA, 0.80 WHIP and 60:12 K:BB over 59.2 innings while adding three saves, 18 holds, three blown saves and a 9-4 record as one of the Padres' top relievers.
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Padres' Nestor Cortes: Impressive in second win
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Cortes (2-2) allowed one hit and struck out three without walking a batter over six scoreless innings to earn the win over the Dodgers on Saturday.
Cortes turned in his best start of the season, retiring 16 straight batters to begin the game before giving up a single to Miguel Rojas in the sixth inning. This was Cortes' second quality start of the campaign, both of which account for his two wins. He's at a 4.66 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and 25:15 K:BB through 29 innings over six starts. The southpaw will look to carry this momentum into his next start, which is tentatively scheduled to be at Minnesota.
The Padres placed Merrill on the 10-day injured list Saturday, retroactive to Aug. 20, due to a left ankle sprain.
Merrill was held out of Saturday's lineup, marking his sixth straight absence due to the left ankle injury. San Diego tried to give the star center fielder a few days to recover in hopes of avoiding an IL stint, but Merrill's ankle didn't heal quickly enough. He'll be eligible for reinstatement Aug. 30. In the meantime, Ramon Laureano should see most of the work in center field while Gavin Sheets fills left field.
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Padres' Jackson Merrill: On bench again
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Merrill (ankle) is out of the lineup for Saturday's game against the Dodgers.
Merrill is missing from the starting nine for a sixth straight contest Saturday as he continues to tend to a bruised left ankle. It looks as though the Padres are willing to play a man down rather than move Merrill to the injured list, but if Merrill's injury continues to linger, a move could be made. Ramon Laureano will patrol center field Saturday.
Suarez allowed two hits and struck out two in a scoreless inning to earn the save in Friday's 2-1 win over the Dodgers.
Suarez had little margin for error, and he was able to escape a two-out situation with runners on the corners to pick up his first save since Aug. 11. This was the Padres' first save chance since that game. Suarez had allowed one run and racked up six strikeouts over four innings between save chances. For the season, he's up to 34 saves with a 3.09 ERA, 0.99 WHIP and 59:14 K:BB through 55.1 innings.
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Padres' Yu Darvish: Strong in win over Dodgers
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Darvish (3-3) allowed one run on one hit and one walk while striking out five over six innings to earn the win over the Dodgers on Friday.
Darvish gave up four runs over four innings against the Dodgers in his previous start, but he rebounded with an excellent outing for his third quality start of the year. The lone run he gave up came on an Alex Freeland solo home run in the third inning. Darvish hasn't lost in five starts, allowing nine runs (including five homers) over 27 innings in that span. Overall, he still has a 5.36 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 39:14 K:BB through 43.2 innings over nine starts, but he's trending in the right direction. Darvish's next start is projected to be at Seattle.
Padres' Jackson Merrill: Absent from Friday's lineup
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Merrill (ankle) is not in the Padres' starting lineup against the Dodgers on Friday.
Merrill will ride the bench for a fifth consecutive game while working through a left ankle contusion that he suffered this past Sunday against the Dodgers. It's not clear whether an IL stint is needed, but the lack of new lockers in the Padres' clubhouse doesn't suggest any player being called up from the minors anytime soon, so Merrill could be available to return at some point during this weekend's home series, per Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune. Ramon Laureano will start in center field and bat seventh.
Padres' Michael King: Tosses second bullpen Thursday
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King (knee) threw bullpen sessions Monday and Thursday, per MLB.com.
King landed on the IL due to left knee inflammation Aug. 14. However, the move was backdated to Aug. 11, so the righty hurler is eligible to be activated this coming Tuesday. The hope has been that King will be able to return to the roster after a minimum-length IL stay, and his ability to throw two bullpens this week suggests that such a scenario remains feasible, though the Padres may opt to give him a few more days to keep the team's other starters on their usual schedule. For the time being, JP Sears is in line to get at least one more start while King remains out of action.
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Padres' Dylan Cease: Punches out seven in shaky outing
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Cease (6-11) earned the win Thursday against the Giants, allowing four runs on six hits and two walks in five innings. He struck out seven.
Though the six hits were his most allowed since July 2 in Philadelphia, Cease produced 13 whiffs en route to fanning at least seven for the fourth time in his last five starts. The right-hander continues to offer fantasy managers plenty of strikeout upside, as he has 178 punchouts over 137.2 innings, but he's been unable to reach his top form consistently with a 4.71 ERA for the season. Cease will be aiming for better run prevention his next time out, which is slated for next week at pitcher-friendly T-Mobile Park against the Mariners.
Padres' Jackson Merrill: Missing fourth straight contest
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Merrill (ankle) remains out of the lineup for Thursday's game against the Giants.
It's the fourth consecutive start Merrill has missed as he works his way through a bone bruise in his left ankle. Merrill undoubtedly will be aiming to return to action Friday for the start of a big series versus the rival Dodgers, but it doesn't seem to be a given that he'll be ready. Ramon Laureano will shift over to center field and Gavin Sheets will get a start in left field for the Padres on Thursday.
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