Statcast Pitcher Risers/Fallers - Exit Velocity (Week 4)

We continue our RotoBaller series using Statcast to extrapolate, dig into, and commiserate over data to examine pitching performances. The weekly series will be dynamic as we fine-tune our findings and I enlighten myself on the information and tools at my disposal. My predictive confidence face-planted over the weekend as two of my calls in... Read More

Franchy Cordero's Blast Ignites Padres Blowout

San Diego Padres outfielder Franchy Cordero went 2-for-6 with a two-run homer in Monday's blowout win against the Colorado Rockies. Cordero crushed a 456-foot bomb to right center field to spark a nine-run seventh inning for the Padres. The blast gives Cordero a total of four long balls in 46 plate appearances and two in... Read More

Wil Myers Breaks Out In Colorado

San Diego Padres outfielder Wil Myers recorded four hits in Monday's 13-5 rout against the Colorado Rockies. Myers' scorecard-stuffing night included two doubles, two RBI, a run and his first stolen base. Monday was Myers' third game back after missing 18 days to an elbow injury, and the performance lifts his season slash line to... Read More

Eric Lauer Debuting Tuesday Against Rockies

MLB.com's AJ Cassavell confirmed San Diego Padres starting pitching prospect Eric Lauer will debut Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies. Prior to the call-up, the 22-year-old left-hander carried a 3.00 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 9.5 K/9 over three starts at Triple-A El Paso. Heading into 2018, Lauer was the Padres No. 12 prospect, and he has... Read More

Christian Villanueva Scratched With Hamstring Soreness

San Diego Padres third baseman Christian Villanueva was scratched from Monday's lineup against the Colorado Rockies due to hamstring soreness. Infielder Corey Spangenberg will substitute at the hot corner for Villanueva, who is available to pinch hit. Look for him back in the lineup tomorrow against the Rockies left-handed starter Kyle Freeland. Villanueva owns a... Read More

Hunter Renfroe On Disabled List With Elbow Inflammation

San Diego Padres outfielder Hunter Renfroe was placed on the disabled list over the weekend with right elbow inflammation. With outfielders Wil Myers (elbow) and Manuel Margot (ribs) returning last weekend, Renfroe will have an opportunity to rest the lingering injury. Renfroe was slashing .200/.281/.440 with two homers and 10 RBI prior to going down.... Read More

Joey Lucchesi Hits Speed Bump

San Diego Padres rookie starter Joey Lucchesi suffered his first loss of the season Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Lucchesi's undoing came in the fourth inning where he faced eight batters and allowed all four of his earned runs. In total, he threw 103 pitches in five innings, surrendering five hits and four walks with... Read More

Christian Villanueva Extends Hitting Streak To Nine

San Diego Padres third baseman Christian Villanueva went 2-for-4 Sunday against the Arizona Diamondbacks, extending his hitting streak to nine games. Villanueva accounted for two of the Padres three hits for the game, including a two-run homerun off Diamondbacks starter Patrick Corbin in the sixth inning. The dinger was his seventh of the season and... Read More

Luis Perdomo Sent To Minors, Kirby Yates Activated

Confirming speculation, San Diego Padres starter Luis Perdomo was optioned Thursday to Triple-A El Paso. Right-handed reliever Kirby Yates (ankle) will be activated from the disabled list Friday. Perdomo had struggled mightily in four starts to a 8.36 ERA and 2.50 WHIP. The Padres haven't announced Perdomo's replacement, but might stick with starter/reliever Robbie Erlin... Read More

Christian Villanueva Fine After Being Plunked On Wrist

San Diego Padres third baseman Christian Villanueva (wrist) was removed from Wednesday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers after being plunked in the wrist. X-rays came up negative and he expects to play Friday. Villanueva is second in the majors with four hit by pitches and is considering using a wrist protector. It makes sense.... Read More

Luis Perdomo Risks Demotion After Disastrous Outing

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Luis Perdomo was awful in Wednesday's loss against the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing nine runs (seven earned) in three innings pitched. Perdomo was hit hard all night, giving up 10 hits with two walks and four strikeouts. After the game, manager Andy Green was blunt. "This is Major League Baseball.... Read More

Luis Perdomo Starting Wednesday, Tyson Ross Bumped

Returning from a five-game suspension, San Diego Padres starting pitcher Luis Perdomo will start Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. This will shift starter Tyson Ross' start to Friday at the Arizona Diamondbacks. Before the suspension, Perdomo held a 4.91 ERA and 2.09 WHIP. With speculation that his job was at risk, Perdomo appears safe... Read More

Bryan Mitchell Posts First Quality Start

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Bryan Mitchell took a no-decision Tuesday, giving up three earned runs in six innings against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Mitchell achieved the bare minimum for the quality start, allowing five hits, three walks and striking out four. Mitchell has been wildly inefficient en route to a 5.03 ERA and 1.88... Read More

Yangervis Solarte (2B, 3B, SS, TOR) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickup

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 50% of Leagues ANALYSIS: Judging by his ownership, many didn't trust Yangervis Solarte as a late-round draftee. Fair, other sleepers like Aaron Altherr, Ryan McMahon and Carlos Gomez were more interesting and readily available. Doh! Through April 17, Solarte is slashing .280/.393/.520 and has appeared in 14... Read More

Statcast Pitcher Risers/Fallers - BABIP (Week 3)

RotoBaller embarks on a new series this year using Statcast to extrapolate, dig into, and commiserate over data to examine pitching performance. The weekly series will be dynamic as we fine-tune our findings and I enlighten myself on the information and tools at my disposal. This week we'll focus on a popular batted-ball metric, Batting... Read More

Padres Recall Tyler Webb

The San Diego Padres recalled pitcher Tyler Webb before Tuesday night's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The move is to bring a fresh arm to the bullpen after the Padres used five pitchers during Monday night's 10-3 drubbing. Reliever Kyle McGrath, who appeared Monday, was sent to Triple-A El Paso. Webb, a left-hander, was... Read More

Wil Myers Begins Rehab Assignment, Manuel Margot Cleared

San Diego Padres outfielder Wil Myers (elbow) is batting third in his first rehab game Tuesday in Lake Elsinore. Myers, who hasn't played since April 2, is on track to return for the weekend series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. He sports a .750 OPS with a home run in just 12 plate appearances. Meanwhile, outfielder... Read More

Dexter Fowler (OF, STL) - Week 3 Waiver Wire Pickup

BALLER MOVE: Add in 12+ Team Leagues OWNED IN: 47% of Leagues ANALYSIS: It makes me feel like an old fantasy player when Dexter Fowler has become a boring forgettable veteran. As a youngster in Colorado, Fowler's irresistible 20/20 potential never came to fruition, but now a 32-year-old in his 11th season, Fowler might just be... Read More

Christian Villanueva Homers In Third Straight Game

San Diego Padres third baseman Christian Villanueva went yard for a third consecutive game on Monday against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Villanueva socked a two-run homer off of Hyun-jin Ryu in the second inning and finished 3-for-4. An unknown before 2018, Villanueva has firmly usurped scuffling third baseman Chase Headley at the hot corner and... Read More

Manuel Margot Close To Returning

San Diego Padres outfielder Manuel Margot (ribs) saw a doctor Monday afternoon and expects to be cleared for baseball activity. Margot was placed on the disabled list last week after getting drilled in the ribs. He's eligible to return this Saturday but will likely play a handful of rehab games first. Margot has struggled out... Read More

Joey Lucchesi Keeps Cruising

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi continued impressing with an easy 10-1 victory Sunday over the San Francisco Giants. Lucchesi required 88 pitches in six innings of work, fanning nine Giants while allowing an earned run, five hits and no walks. En route to his second win, Lucchesi brought his ERA down to 1.66... Read More

Dinelson Lamet Opts for Tommy John Surger,y, Out For Season

An MRI for San Diego Padres right handed pitcher Dinelson Lamet (elbow) revealed ligament damage in his elbow and he will undergo Tommy John Surgery. Lamet will miss the 2018 season and the beginning of 2019 also. This is a tough blow for the Padres and Lamet, who was widely expected to progress as one... Read More

Predicting Pitching Performance With Statcast - Barrel % (Week 2)

This year, RotoBaller is embarking on a new series using Statcast to extrapolate, dig into, and commiserate over box scores to examine pitching performance. I'm honored to take the reins on this new endeavor. The structure of the series will be dynamic as we fine-tune our findings weekly and I gradually make myself smarter about... Read More

Jose Pirela Wraps Up Strong Series At Coors Field

San Diego Padres outfielder Jose Pirela went 2-for-4 with a run scored in Wednesday's game against the Colorado Rockies. For the series, Pirela hit .571 (8-for-14) with two doubles, three runs and two RBI. He lifted his average to .316 and OPS to .760 in the process. Most hitters enjoy Coors Field, but Pirela's strong... Read More

Eric Hosmer Cranks First Round-Tripper

San Diego Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer went 2-for-4 Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies with a home run and two runs scored. Make that 10 hits in his last 24 at-bats (.417) for Hosmer, who doubled and scored in the sixth inning before taking Jake McGee deep in the eighth. The 439-foot homer was his... Read More

Luis Perdomo Ejected After Sparking Brawl

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Luis Perdomo was ejected after completing just two innings Wednesday against the Colorado Rockies. After outfielder Manuel Margot (ribs) was hit Tuesday night, the Rockies beaned outfielder Hunter Renfroe in the wrist during the second inning. These instigations were enough for Perdomo to throw behind third baseman Nolan Arenado in... Read More

Manuel Margot On Disabled List, Franchy Cordero Activated

After being plunked in the ribs during Tuesday's game against the Colorado Rockies, San Diego Padres outfielder Manuel Margot (ribs) is going on the disabled list. Margot fell to the ground and appeared in considerable pain after being hit and needed Matt Szczur to enter as a pinch runner. X-rays revealed no fractures, but a... Read More

Eric Hosmer Stays Hot With Two More Hits

San Diego Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer went 2-for-3 with two singles, two walks and scored a run in Tuesday's victory against the Colorado Rockies. With eight hits in his last 20 at-bats, Hosmer has lifted his average from .259 to .319. Hosmer has had a ho-hum start to the year with no homers and... Read More

Brad Hand Picks Up Save In Second Straight Game

San Diego Padres closer Brad Hand collected his second save in as many nights on Tuesday against the Colorado Rockies. Hand relinquished a hit but his outing appeared effortless. He induced a Nolan Arenado double play after allowing a leadoff single then retired Trevor Story on a weak liner to end the game. Hand threw... Read More

Joey Lucchesi Notches First Career Win At Coors Field

San Diego Padres rookie starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi shined in his third career start Tuesday visiting the Colorado Rockies, picking up a victory after completing six-plus innings while allowing two runs (zero earned), four hits, a walk and eight strikeouts. Aside from a Trevor Story homer in the first inning after his own error, Lucchesi... Read More