San Diego Padres supervisor Mike Shildt is having fun with his return to St. Louis.
“It is good to return again,” stated Shildt, who managed the Cardinals to a few postseason berths earlier than getting fired after the 2021 season. “Lots of people that you simply wish to see and plenty of good relationships, plenty of actually, actually good reminiscences and other people. However largely, it is concerning the Padres coming in and taking part in good baseball.”
The Padres did that Monday night time whereas successful 7-4 within the opener of a four-game collection, with Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill every driving in three runs. San Diego will bid for its fourth victory in 5 video games when the groups meet once more Tuesday night time.
The Padres obtained an emotional raise over the weekend watching pitcher Yu Darvish and slugger Fernando Tatis Jr. edge nearer to a return. Each are anticipated to return off the injured listing sooner or later in September for the playoff push.
“It is getting actual,” Merrill stated. “We’re getting all the way down to crunch time, and we’re getting our boys again, so we’re all excited.”
San Diego will begin Dylan Stop (12-10, 3.43 ERA) on Tuesday. The precise-hander took a hard-luck loss in his final outing whereas permitting three runs, two earned, on 9 hits in 6 1/3 innings in opposition to the New York Mets. He struck out seven batters and walked one.
Stop did not face the Cardinals earlier this season when the groups met. In his solely earlier profession begin in opposition to them, on July 7, 2023, he allowed 5 runs on 11 hits in six innings throughout a no-decision. Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer in opposition to him in that contest.
The Cardinals on Tuesday will give the ball to Miles Mikolas (8-10, 5.19 ERA), who started his profession with the Padres in 2012 and 2013.
Mikolas is coming off a robust efficiency in opposition to the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday: six shutout innings with simply two hits allowed in a sport St. Louis ultimately received 3-0. He struck out three and walked one.
“Going into the tip of the season, I do know we’ve plenty of video games which might be in opposition to groups which might be both going to be within the playoffs or making an attempt to scrap their manner there,” Mikolas stated. “So each base, each play, each bag, each pitch issues this time of yr.”
He credited some mechanical fixes for his success on Thursday.
“I believe I have been hiding the ball somewhat bit higher in my supply … so it retains guys somewhat extra sincere on the fastball,” Mikolas stated. “I believe it helps my motion on the sinker as properly. It helps make them two very totally different pitches, one which’s holding the road as a lot as attainable after which one the place it is simply type of operating and staying down within the zone and getting beneath the barrel.”
Mikolas earned a 5-2 victory over the Padres on April 2. He allowed two runs on seven hits in six innings whereas putting out 4 and strolling one.
He’s 3-2 with a 2.55 ERA in seven profession begins in opposition to his former group.
–Discipline Stage Media
