Gavin Sheets' Place In Padres' Playoff Roster Picture Is Getting Harder To Find

The San Diego Padres haven't seen Gavin Sheets suit up for a game since August 29. Placed on the injured list the same day as Luis Rengifo, Sheets has spent almost a full month on the shelf with a foot sprain and plantar plate tear. While that could require surgery during the offseason, it's possible that the team could activate him over the next couple of days ahead of what is expected to be a third consecutive playoff appearance. 

Of course, that activation would come at a diminished role given the aforementioned possible need for surgery. Which means that if Sheets is brought back and if we see him during the postseason, it would be in a pinch-hit or designated hitter capacity. That presents a couple of issues. 

The first among them is the roster gymnastics that the Padres would have to undergo in order to accommodate his presence on the roster. With Miguel Andujar also nearing a return, the Padres would have to fit two positionally-limited bats into what has become a fairly dynamic roster in the second half. Andujar may be easier to fit in the stead of someone like Austin Hays, a right-handed hitter who has been used sparingly, and only as a DH, over the last few weeks.

Even through various injuries (namely Rengifo), the Padres have found worthwhile contributors in reserve roles. Dustin Harris & Samad Taylor have each been very good in limited duty for San Diego, each logging time in left field, while the current roster featuring three catchers has allowed them to deploy the more offensively-inclined Luis Campusano & Ethan Salas earlier in games (or in the DH spot) and turn to defense-first backstop Freddy Fermin later on in an as-needed basis. That also grants the gift of flexibility in the form of having Sung-Mun Song around as a reserve infielder. 

That's not to say that the Padres would lose their ability to move pieces around entirely upon Sheets' return altogether. But it would certainly limit things in a way that they are not at present. 

Which is especially important to consider when one examines the type of year Sheets is actually having. Prior to his IL placement, his line read .211/.313/.388 with an even 100 wRC+ across more than 400 plate appearances. There's plenty of bad luck in there (.229 BABIP), but that bad fortune also comes at the result of a 46.0 percent ground-ball rate that is nearly nine points higher than it was last year. Elevation has been an issue for a player that's supposed to be a secondary slugger in this lineup. 

Now, of course, Sheets excels as a left-handed hitter against righties. All 16 of his homers have come against right-handed arms this year, with a .206 ISO and 114 wRC+ against righties versus a .046 ISO and 33 wRC+ against southpaws. Still, Harris and Salas are also lefties. Both are, at this point in the year, more well-rounded as hitters than Sheets and offer more in the way of defensive acumen. Would the Friars really limit their exposure just to give Sheets a few platoon-friendly at-bats in October?

It's a question at least worth asking. Sheets has a track record as recently as last year as being a key bat for the Padres. We just haven't seen him at his best all too frequently this year. In any case, it appears it's something the Padres are going to have to navigate over the next couple of days as they work to assemble their postseason roster.

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