Padres pregame: Slumping Jake Cronenworth, Jackson Merrill back in lineup
Jake Cronenworth set a career high in on-base percentage last year, had a .940 OPS in 18 Cactus League games and felt as good about his offseason preparation as he ever had.
None of that has allowed him to escape the starts that have weighed on so many of the mainstays to start the season.
"It’s obviously not the start I want," Cronenworth said. "It’s been really frustrating. I don’t think I’ve put in a better work of offseason going into spring training. Same thing in spring training, and for this to be the start that I have is obviously really frustrating for me. But I think at the end of the day, I can trust in the process. It’s been really, really hard, and I’ve stayed here late after games to hit in the cage. I’ve gotten here at noon to hit early.
"Hasn’t been easy, but it’s one of those things you never hope it happens, but come out stronger on the other side."
Cronenworth is back in the lineup at second base after sitting against a left-hander on Friday, as is center fielder Jackson Merrill.
Cronenworth is hitting .146/.276/.202, doesn't have an extra-base hit in his last seven games (.415 OPS) and is contending with a career-high 57.4% groundball rate, more than 14 points above last year's rate.
Merrill is hitting .200/.270/.330 for the year, doesn't have an extra-base hit in his last 11 games and has seen his batting average dip to career worsts against both breaking balls (.174) and off-speed pitches (.121).
Beyond those two, Fernando Tatis Jr. (.665 OPS) is still looking for his first home run and Manny Machado (.718 OPS) is still looking for his first heater, although calf cramping on Monday seemed to interrupt the start of a hot stretch as he homered twice on Sunday in Mexico City and had three hits before exiting after six innings on Monday, sitting Tuesday and serving as the DH on Wednesday.
The Padres (19-12), who have lost three in a row for the first time this season, enter Saturday sitting 22nd in batting average (.233), 26th in on-base percentage (.308) and 21st in slugging (.381).
The Dodgers (20-12) have also lost three in a row for the first time this season, so the Padres remain a half-game out in the NL West.
Here is how the White Sox (15-17), winners of their last four games, will line up for Game 2:
Saturday’s pitching matchup
White Sox RHP Sean Burke (1-2, 3.21 ERA)
The third-year pitcher has one quality start in six trips to the mound, although he's coming off 7⅓ shutout innings of bulk relief in his last start. Burke has a 2.70 ERA in two career starts against the Padres. He allowed three runs-two earned-in four innings in a loss last year.
Here is how Burke has fared against current Padres:
Padres RHP Michael King (3-1, 2.41 ERA)
He has quality starts in three of his last four starts (1.96 ERA) and struck out eight against two walks over six innings in his last start. King has a 3.38 ERA over 13⅓ innings in his career against the White Sox, including five shutout innings in his only start last year in a win.
Here is how King has fared against current White Sox hitters:
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