Padres Week In Review: A Step Forward, A Step Back

[Alex Carl]

Weekly Snapshot:
Record Last Week: 3-3 (Overall: 45-38)
Run Scored Last Week: 20
Runs Surrendered Last Week: 28
Standing: 2nd in NL West (7.0 GB 1st place LAD)

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Game 78 (6/23) | WAS 10, SD 6
Game 79 (6/24) | SD 4, WAS 3
Game 80 (6/25) | SD 1, WAS 0
Game 81 (6/27) | CIN 8, SD 1
Game 82 (6/28) | SD 6, CIN 4
Game 83 (6/29) | CIN 3, SD 2
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Transactions:
06/27/25 - RHP Robert Suarez reinstated from league suspension.
06/25/25 - RHP Robert Suarez starting to serve suspension.
06/24/25 - Placed RHP Ryan Bergert on 15-day injured list. (Right forearm contusion)
06/24/25 - Recalled RHP Sean Reynolds from AAA El Paso. 
06/23/25 - Released OF Jason Heyward.

Breakdown/Highlights:
The Padres split a six-game week and were two outs away from claiming their third straight series win before a walk-off loss on Sunday ended things on a bitter note. While the offense continued to sputter at times and the starting pitching was uneven, the bullpen largely delivered, highlighted by bounce-back outings and timely relief work.

With starters struggling to go deep into games, the Padres leaned heavily on their relievers, and for the most part, they delivered. Adrian Morejon was lights out again, tossing four shutout innings across three appearances and dropping his ERA to 1.98. Bryan Hoeing returned from the IL and contributed three scoreless frames across two games, earning a win in the process.

Yuki Matsui, however, mightily struggles this week. The lefty was hit hard in two outings, giving up seven runs in 2 1/3 innings and seeing his ERA balloon to 4.73.

After a tough couple of outings earlier this month, Jeremiah Estrada found his footing again with three hitless outings, striking out five over 4 1/3 innings and not allowing a baserunner. Jason Adam chipped in 3 2/3 scoreless innings of his own across three outings.

But the week ended with another gut punch. Closer Robert Suarez, who had pitched two clean save situations on Tuesday and Saturday, including one after returning from suspension, blew a save Sunday by allowing four hits and a walk in the ninth as the Reds walked it off, 3-2. He still leads the league with 23 saves.

The Padres got a gem from Nick Pivetta on Wednesday, who dominated with seven shutout innings and 10 strikeouts in a 1–0 win. But the rest of the rotation stumbled. Stephen Kolek got knocked out early on Monday but rebounded with a strong 5 2/3-inning, one-run outing on Sunday.

Dylan Cease was shelled for four runs in four innings on Friday, while Randy Vásquez allowed four runs in 4 1/3 innings Saturday, though many came on bloops. The bullpen again cleaned up behind him.

Ryan Bergert exited early Tuesday after being struck by a comebacker and was later placed on the injured list.

The offense had trouble stringing hits together most of the week, scoring just 20 runs over six games. Luis Arraez remained the Padres’ most reliable bat, collecting eight hits, including a solo homer Saturday, and driving in the game’s only run on Wednesday.

Gavin Sheets delivered the biggest swing of the week: a go-ahead three-run homer Saturday that lifted the Padres to a 6-4 win. Jake Cronenworth also homered twice, including a key two-run shot in that same game.

Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado both homered Monday but were quiet otherwise. Jackson Merrill had a quietly strong week, reaching base nine times (5 hits, 4 walks) while striking out only three times. After a scorching stretch, Xander Bogaerts went cold with one hit in five games before breaking out on Sunday with a home run and two doubles.

The Padres have gone 13–14 in June with only one game left, surviving a stretch of injuries and pitching instability, thanks in large part to bullpen depth and various offensive flashes. But this week has been a microcosm of their season, being good enough to stay competitive, but not sharp enough to pull away. 

The Padres now head into a tough stretch, opening a three-game road set in Philadelphia before returning home to host the Texas Rangers for a Fourth of July weekend series.

Looking Ahead:
June 30, 2025 – Padres at Phillies – 3:35 PM PT
July 1, 2025 – Padres at Phillies – 3:35 PM PT
July 2, 2025 – Padres at Phillies – 10:05 AM PT
July 4, 2025 – Rangers at Padres – 3:40 PM PT
July 5, 2025 – Rangers at Padres – 6:40 PM PT
July 6, 2025 – Rangers at Padres – 6:10 PM PT

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