It was a one-off and a day off for Luis Arraez when Jackson Merrill hit second on May 26.
What’s happening with the lineup since Merrill’s return from the concussion list — as in Merrill in the two-hole and Arraez batting fourth as is the case for a third straight game Tuesday (6:40 p.m. on Padres.TV) — is something Padres manager Mike Shildt appears to committed to as he looks to jump start an offense that ranks 29th in OPS (.651) in 39 games since their historic 21-0 win at Coors Field.
“The batting order is always going to be somewhat fluid, but I wouldn’t expect any major changes,” Shildt said. “I think we’re enjoying what we’re seeing now. … The thing is, both Jackson and Luis both hit. Ever since we made this change, both Luis and Jackson basically just both hit. So it’s really about how the pieces fit all together.”
Tuesday night at the ballpark. pic.twitter.com/yXtDJ8jtpK
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 24, 2025
The sample size, of course, is small.
The Padres (42-36) won Sunday, 3-2, with just five hits, which included Arraez starting the game-winning rally out of the four-hole with a single. The Padres lost on Tuesday despite collecting nine hits as a team. Arraez has hits in both games and is riding a 10-game hitting streak (.311/.311/.378). Merrill is 3-for-8 with a double since returning from the concussion list in the two-hole.
It was a change that Shildt said he was considering before his center fielder was smacked in the face with a tag in Arizona.
Neither party seems to mind.
“Wherever he puts me, I’ll hit,” Merrill said Sunday afternoon. “I liked it (Sunday). We’ll see how it keeps rolling.”
Arraez is equally amenable to wherever he’s in the lineup. Besides, he has a bit more history of moving around.
The three-time batting champ has led off 407 times to start a game. But he also counts starts at every spot in the order, including 23 times as a cleanup hitter before Shildt inserted him into that spot on Sunday.
“If it’s something that helps the team win, I’ll be there,” Arraez said. “Batting fourth, batting ninth, batting sixth. Whatever spot … I can go out there and do something for the team, I’ll go out there and do it.”
Asked if moving from a table-setting role to a run-producing spot would impact his approach, Arraez said: “I don’t have to change anything. I just go out there and put the ball in play.”
Here is how the Nationals (33-46) will line up for Game 2:
eighty. pic.twitter.com/TqD2ABREpm
— Washington Nationals (@Nationals) June 24, 2025
The Darvish plan
Yu Darvish will travel up the 15 freeway to throw a sim game at low Single-A Lake Elsinore on Wednesday.
That’s right: A sim game and not a traditional rehab game.
“A controlled environment,” Shildt said. “The thing about rehabs, they can be wonderful because another jersey is taking (at-bats), umpires, the whole shooting match. But the fact of the matter is if someone puts together a long at-bat or guys don’t play clean or something happens, he’s trying to get to a certain pitch count, but he’s in a high pitch count that inning, he can’t go back or has to go to the bullpen. A controlled environment makes the most sense.”
The sim game is not happening at Petco Park, because the Padres play at 1:10 p.m. Wednesday. A two-to-three inning session would require an early morning arrival and potentially eat into the Nationals’ plans for early work.
The sim game will occur sometime before Wednesday’s 6:05 p.m. start in Lake Elsinore.
Darvish last threw two simulated innings on Friday. Wednesday’s session could be a jumping off point for more significant steps toward a return to the rotation.
“It puts him in what we think is a pretty good spot in the sense of if he can get through two to three innings and then recover, we’re getting close to something back to a progression that gets him here that’s sincere,” Shildt said. “Tomorrow still has to take place and then the recovery is essential.”
Notable
- Before the game, OF Jason Heyward was officially released. The Padres designated Heyward for assignment on Sunday, the precursor to cutting ties with the 35-year-old veteran on Tuesday. Heyward hit .176/.223/.271 in 34 games with the Padres and was on the injured list for a second time this season.
- The Padres are still awaiting to hear the result of RHP Robert Suarez’s appeal of a three-game suspension for intentionally throwing at Dodgers DH Shohei Ohtani on Thursday.
Tuesday’s pitching matchup
Nationals RHP Trevor Williams (3-8, 5.54 ERA)
The Rancho Bernardo High product has a 5.12 ERA in four starts in June, but he is at least keeping the ball in the park. He has allowed on home run this month and eight in 74⅔ innings. Williams has a 4.91 ERA in 22 innings in his career against the Padres and a 5.40 ERA in two career starts at Petco Park.
Here is how Williams has fared against current Padres:
Padres RHP Ryan Bergert (1-0, 1.88 ERA)
The 25-year-old rookie has yet to complete six innings, but he has a 2.25 ERA in four starts since moving into the rotation. Bergert has early reverse splits, too, as he is holding lefties to a .393 OPS and righties to a .649 OPS. This will be his first start at Petco Park. He threw a scoreless inning in San Diego in relief earlier this season.
