Padres Week in Review: At Least Freddy Fermin's Funk Is Over

San Diego Padres Weekly Snapshot

Record last week: 1-5

Runs scored last week: 14

Runs allowed last week: 26 (season run differential: minus-18)

Standings

Scores

• Monday: No game
• Game 59 (Tuesday): Phillies 3, Padres 2
• Game 60 (Wednesday): Phillies 3, Padres 2
• Game 61 (Thursday): Phillies 6, Padres 4
• Game 62 (Friday): Mets 5, Padres 0
• Game 63 (Saturday): Padres 3, Mets 2
• Game 64 (Sunday): Mets 7, Padres 3

Week in Review and Highlights

Phillies series

Game 1: You get a sense of where you really stand when you play teams you think are on your level. For the Padres, facing the Philadelphia Phillies for six games over a 10-day span has not been a battle of equals. The Padres lost for the fourth time in as many games to the Phillies, dropping a 3-2 decision in a game in which the Friars got another decent starting pitching performance, only to be outdone by an opponent's starter. Padres right-handed starter Randy Vasquez bounced back from two subpar performances to go five innings and give up two runs on five hits and a walk with three strikeouts. The runs he surrendered were courtesy of Bryce Harper's two-run homer in the fourth inning that tied the game.

But again, the Padres had trouble denting the scoreboard. Having called up outfielder Jase Bowen before the game to make his MLB debut as left fielder Ramon Laureano hit the injured list with with hip inflammation, the Padres struck for a pair of runs in the third inning. Fernando Tatis Jr. singled with two outs and Gavin Sheets, one of the few offensive positives thus far, smashed a two-run homer for his 10th of the season, matching Manny Machado for the team lead. But that would be the extent of the Padres' scoring against Phillies right-handed starter Aaron Nola and four relievers. Nola struck out eight over five innings and the Phillies' version of a lockdown closer, Jhoan Duran, punched out three in earning his 13th save. The Phillies grabbed the lead on a run-scoring double play. The Padres got runners on in the seventh and eighth innings, including Bowen's first MLB hit in the seventh that put runners on the corners, but couldn't push across the tying run.

Game 2: Different day, same score, same result. While the Padres brought a pitcher's lengthy shutout streak to an end, a roster shakeup couldn't wake up the offense. On the day the Padres designated Nick Castellanos for assignment, they did manage to score a run of Phillies left-handed ace Cristopher Sanchez, but fell 3-2. It was the second four-game losing streak for the Friars in their last nine games. Four games is their longest skid this year. Sanchez entered the game having not allowed a run in 44⅔ innings and added six more to move up to fifth all time, the last 13 of which came against the Padres after he threw seven shutout last week at Petco Park. He did finish seven innings again, striking out eight and allowing just four hits.

The positives for the Padres are that they finally ended the scoreless streak by last year's NL Cy Young Award runner-up. That came in the seventh as, with two outs, Ty France doubled to left and Jackson Merrill bounced a hard grounder through the left side of the infield and into left field. France chugged home from second and scored without a play as the throw was off the mark and took multiple hops before reaching the catcher. That snapped Sanchez's streak at 50⅔ innings (only completed innings count, which is why it isn't 51⅓), and tied the game 1-1. It was the first run Sanchez had allowed since April 30. But the Phillies scored twice in the bottom of the seventh on solo homers by J.T. Realmuto and Kyle Schwarber, the MLB leader with 23, against right-hander Jason Adam. The Padres fought back in the eighth as Tatis and Miguel Andujar singled with one out, Sheets walked after Machado struck out to load the bases and Xander Bogaerts was hit by a pitch to force in a run to bring it to 3-2. France, however, hit an inning-ending grounder.

The Padres were able to rally and make it close thanks to right-handed starter Walker Buehler, who was allowed to finish six innings for just the second time as a Friar. He gave up four hits and a run, while walking two and punching out six, including Schwarber twice. Duran pitched a perfect ninth for his second save in as many games and 14th of the season.

Game 3: Following their season-worst fifth loss in a row and ninth loss in 10 games, a 6-4 decision that completed a sweep by the Phillies, Machado had this to say: “I don’t think it can get worse.” Well, it could, but point taken. The offense has been miserable and the pitching hasn't been as expected. On this day, the defense chipped into the downfall. An aspect of the game in which the Friars are one of of MLB's best committed two miscues, one by a reliever and the other by catcher Freddy Fermin. Right-handed starter Lucas Giolito lasted just four innings (74 pitches), allowing three runs (two earned) on six hits with five strikeouts.

The Padres were kept in by right-handed starter Zach Wheeler, who took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and had a 3-0 lead before giving up a two-run bomb by Machado in the top of the seventh. Wheeler struck out eight and the Friars only managed only two hits. Just when it seemed like Machado might give the Padres a chance, left-handed reliever Adrian Morejon diminished that hope by giving up three runs in the bottom of the seventh. Some of the late-inning magic was back as Merrill hit a two-run homer with no outs in the top of the ninth, but the next three batters were retired to finish off the sweep. The Padres finished the road trip 1-5 and now head home to face the New York Mets, who are struggling themselves.

Mets series

Game 1: After facing perhaps the hottest team in the NL East, the Padres welcomed the worst team in that division as their stretch of 12 consecutive games against the East hit its final leg. The bad news is the Friars' fortunes didn't change. On a day one of their position players was possibly lost for the season and a key reliever went on the injured list, the Padres couldn't do anything offensively, mustering a mere three hits in a 5-0 loss to the New York Mets, the Friars' six consecutive loss, a season worst, and their 10th in 11 games. Right-handed starter Christian Scott, who began the season in the minors, blanked the Padres through 5⅔ innings, giving up all three hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Tatis had a leadoff single in the fifth, France started the second with a single and Machado finished Scott's day with a sixth-inning single. Rodolfo Duran drew both walks and was the only Padre to reach second base. That was it.

Padres right-handed starter Michael King was off just a bit. He went six innings and gave up four runs and six his, walking none and striking out four. But King gave up a pair of homers to some lesser-known Mets in Jared Young and Luis Torrens and an RBI triple by Bo Bichette. Right-hander David Morgan returned from the minors with two shutout innings. Superstar closer Mason Miller, pitching for the first time in a week, was only able to get two outs and gave up his fourth run of the season on A.J. Ewing's single and two stolen bases, then an RBI single by Brett Baty. It capped a day in which Laureano had hip surgery, with his return this year in doubt, while right-handed reliever Jeremiah Estrada went on the 15-day injured list with inflammation in his right knee.

Game 2: Sometimes you just need that little bounce. When Tatis' third-inning single nutmegged the pitcher and caromed off second base into shallow right field for an RBI single, you had to think the tide, at least for this day, was going the Padres' way. And it did. Getting an unlikely go-ahead home run from the slumping Fermin, the Padres eeked out a 3-2 victory over the Mets, snapping their six-game skid, the longest of the season. Could it be a sign of better things to come? Only the upcoming games will tell that story. But for this Saturday night, there was a little hint of that Padres magic that marked their April performance. There were only five hits from the Friars and they came from three players (Tatis had two, Sung-Mun Song had two and Fermin the other), so there is still work to do there. But a win is a win.

Tatis' third-inning single brought in Song from second and tied the game. The Mets took a 2-1 lead in the top of the seventh on a Marcus Semien leadoff homer. After being held down for six innings by Mets rookie right-handed starter Nolan McLean, the Padres were on the verge of another scoreless inning in the bottom of the seventh against right-handed reliever Austin Warren, who retired the first two hitters. Song reached on a soft single that was deflected by Warren, then Fermin and his 0-for-30 slump came to the plate. He had just four extra-base hits and no homers, but changed that when he jumped on a 94.4 mph first-pitch sinker and launched it into the left-center field bleachers for a game-changing two-run homer.

It also helped turn a nice pitching performance into a victory. Right-hander Griffin Canning turned in his best effort since his season debut May 3. He limited the Mets to three hits over five innings, allowing one run with two walks and six punchouts. He overcame a 29-pitch second inning by facing the minimum in three innings. Morejon pitched a scoreless sixth, then Bradgley Rodriguez gave up Semien's seventh-inning blast and Adam overcome a pair of eighth-inning hits to put up a zero. That left the fate of the losing streak in Miller's hands. Pitching for the first time in a week, Miller withstood a two-out walk to notch his 18th save in as many chances.

Game 3: While you could have considered this a soft spot in the schedule for the Padres and a chance to get things back on the right track, that turned out to not be the case. The Mets, the last-place team in the NL East, came into Petco Park and took two of three from the Padres following a 7-3 victory n the finale. The Mets were the first of four consecutive teams that are currently below .500 the Padres will face. While there were signs of life from the offense, the pitching was the bigger letdown Sunday. Right-handed starter Randy Vasquez lasted just four-plus innings and gave up four runs on eight hits, including a homer, with a pair of walks and three strikeouts. He through 75 pitches, with 49 strikes. Vasquez was lifted after giving up three singles and a walk to begin the fifth inning, which led to two more runs and a 4-0 Mets lead.

The Padres did get on the board in the bottom of the fifth. Samad Taylor, a Corona native who was called up to replace Castellanos and had family see him playing for the first time in person as he made his first Petco Park start, had a one-out single, which was followed by Fermin's second homer of the season. But the Mets got those two runs back in the top of the sixth and added another in the eighth before the Padres put up a brief rally in the ninth, getting an RBI double from Fermin. Fermin has three of his seven extra-base hits this season in his last two games. There was an injury to keep an eye on. Andujar was removed in the seventh inning, an out after singling, with a hamstring injury. The hope is that it recovers in the next day or two and won't necessitate going on the injured list. The six-game homestand continues against the Cincinnati Reds, before heading out for a nine-game road trip beginning with the Baltimore Orioles.

Marvelous Mason Miller

Some of the amazing stats for the Padres' closer:

• Season stats: 1-1, 1.01 ERA, 26 games, 18 saves (18 chances), 26⅔ IP, 12 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 12 BB, 51 K, .132 opponent average
• Named NL Reliever of the Month for May, the third straight month he has reaped the honor. He has been a Padre for four months of the last two regular seasons. Hall of Famer Trevor Hoffman is the only other Friar to win the award three times.
• Went 7-for-7 in save opportunities in May, striking out 20 over 9⅔ innings.
• With his lone strikeout Friday, he became the first Padres pitcher to strike out 50 within his first 100 batters of the season. Miller and Josh Hader are the only pitchers in MLB history to do this multiple times.
• Has allowed a run in two of his last five outings and in just three of his 26 appearances.
• Has not given up an extra-base hit in his last 46 appearances, the second-longest streak behind Alan Embree's 47.

Random Stats

• From June 1, 2024, to June 1 this year (Monday), the Padres have the third-best record in MLB at 184-138 (.571). Only the Los Angeles Dodgers (.594) and Milwaukee Brewers (.593) have a better winning percentage.
• In his start Wednesday, Walker Buehler reached 97 mph on his four-seam fastball for the first time this season and averaged more than 95 mph on that pitch for the first time since June 2025.
• The six-game season sweep at the hands of the Phillies was the first of at least that length for the Friars since 2005, when the Phillies also took six games.
• Manny Machado's two-run homer Thursday was his 800th career extra-base hit, one of seven active players to reach that mark.
• Machado is slashing just .169/.254/.342 with 60 strikeouts in 62 games, a 23.3% strikeout rate. His career mark is 17.7%. He has walked 10.3%, up from his 8.3% career mark.
• Fernando Tatis Jr. walked and singled in five plate appearances Sunday. He has now reached base in 33 of his last 77 plate appearances, with multi-hit performances in seven of his last 13 games.
• The Padres had not lost any of their last four series vs. the Mets, winning three and splitting the other, before dropping this one.

Transactions

• Monday: Signed free-agent RHP Jesus Heredia to a minor-league contract.
• Tuesday: Transferred RHP Nick Pivetta (right elbow inflammation) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
• Tuesday: Placed LF Ramón Laureano on the 10-day injured list retroactive to Sunday with right hip inflammation.
• Tuesday: Selected the contract of CF Jase Bowen from Triple-A El Paso.
• Wednesday: Designated RF Nick Castellanos for assignment.
• Wednesday: Selected the contract of IF-OF Samad Taylor from Triple-A El Paso.
• Wednesday: Signed free-agent OF Luis Sanchez to a minor-league contract.
• Friday: Transferred LF Ramón Laureano (right hip surgery) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day injured list.
• Friday: Placed RHP Jeremiah Estrada on the 15-day injured list retroactive to Wednesday with right knee inflammation.
• Friday: Recalled RHP David Morgan from Triple-A El Paso.
• Friday: Activated RHP Jhony Brito from the 60-day injured list and optioned him to Triple-A El Paso.
• Friday: Released RF Nick Castellanos.

Website Highlights

• Padres finally untangle themselves from Castellanos — Steve Drumwright
• Inside the emotional breakthrough of Tatis' first homer of 2026 — Taylor Leonard
• France is a reminder that baseball isn't one size fits all — N.B. Lindberg
• Tatis is opening new avenues for Padres with his play at second base — Tom Gatto
• Fermin trade has been a disaster for the Padres — Steve Drumwright

Looking Ahead

• Monday: Reds (Andrew Abbott) at Padres (Walker Buehler), 6:40 p.m.
• Tuesday: Reds (Chase Burns) at Padres (Lucas Giolito), 6:40 p.m.
• Wednesday: Reds (Brady Singer) at Padres (Michael King), 1:10 p.m.
• Thursday: Off
• Friday: Padres at Orioles (Griffin Canning), 4:05 p.m.
• Saturday: Padres at Orioles (Randy Vasquez), 1:05 p.m.
• Sunday: Padres at Orioles (Walker Buehler), 10:35 a.m.