Momentum says Padres. San Diego just took 3 of 4 in Baltimore, including a 9-3 thumping and a 5-2 series-clincher Sunday where Mason Miller closed it out before heading to the bereavement list. St. Louis, meanwhile, just dropped 2 of 3 in Minnesota and is 2-3 over its last 5 — last night was a 5-4 walkoff loss to the Twins that stings.
The Padres' lineup is a problem, though. They're without Jake Cronenworth (concussion), Miguel Andujar (hamstring), Freddy Fermin (concussion), and Ramon Laureano (labrum surgery), and the rotation has been gutted by Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, Nick Pivetta, German Marquez, and Matt Waldron. That's why you're seeing the bullpen-game gambit in the first place.
- 7-day ilFreddy Fermin (C) — The Padres placed Fermin (concussion) on the 7-day injured list Sunday.06/14
- 7-Day ILJake Cronenworth (2B) — Cronenworth (concussion) has been participating in light baseball activities and is "ramping up," per MLB.com.06/08
- 10-Day-ILLuis Campusano (C) — Campusano (toe) continues to rehab in Arizona but hasn't yet been scheduled for a minor-league rehab assignment, per MLB.com.06/14
- 10-Day-ILMiguel Andujar (DH) — Andujar (hamstring) remains out of the lineup for Wednesday's game against the Reds.06/13
- bereavementMason Miller (RP) — Miller secured the save Sunday against the Orioles, throwing 1.1 clean innings. He struck out three.06/15
- 15-Day-ILMatt Waldron (SP) — Waldron (forearm) made his first rehab appearance with Triple-A El Paso on Sunday, tossing 2.1 scoreless innings.06/15
- 15-Day-ILGerman Marquez (SP) — Marquez (forearm) tossed four scoreless innings for Triple-A El Paso on Sunday, allowing one hit and issuing one walk while striking out two batters.06/08
- 15-Day-ILJeremiah Estrada (RP) — Estrada (2-2) picked up the loss after giving up the eventual game-winning run in a 3-2 loss to Philadelphia on Tuesday.06/05
- OutYu Darvish (SP) — Darvish (elbow) revealed Tuesday in a social media post that he has resumed playing catch.05/12
- 60-Day-ILNick Pivetta (SP) — Pivetta (forearm) progressed to throwing from 90 feet with some intensity June 10, per MLB.com.06/14
- 60-Day-ILJoe Musgrove (SP) — Musgrove (elbow) started playing catch in late May, per MLB.com.06/08
- 60-Day-ILRamon Laureano (LF) — Laureano underwent surgery Friday to repair his torn right labrum, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.06/05
- 60-Day-ILBryan Hoeing (RP) — The Padres transferred Hoeing (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.05/08
- Day-To-DayPacky Naughton (RP) — Naughton will undergo surgery next month to repair the damaged UCL in his left elbow, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.05/14
- Day-To-DaySem Robberse (SP) — Robberse (elbow) signed a minor-league contract with the Cardinals on Monday, which includes an invitation to spring training, Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayVictor Santos (RP) — The Red Sox traded Santos (undisclosed) and Nick Robertson to the Cardinals on Friday in exchange for Tyler O'Neill (foot), Alex Speier of The Boston Globe reports.05/08
- Day-To-DayIxan Henderson (SP) — Henderson (elbow) is starting the season on the 60-day injured list at Triple-A Memphis.05/08
- Day-To-DayZack Thompson (RP) — The Cardinals reassigned Thompson (shoulder) to minor-league camp Monday.05/08
- 15-Day-ILRyan Fernandez (RP) — Fernandez (back) is on track to begin a rehab assignment with Triple-A Memphis on Friday, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.06/15
- 60-Day-ILRamon Urias (3B) — Urias (elbow) returned to St. Louis to undergo an examination on his left elbow, Jeff Jones of the Belleville News-Democrat reports.06/12
The Cards are the much healthier roster here and they're getting May at the right time, which is why the home side sits around -159. The counter is that the Padres bullpen has been the reason they've stayed in the wild card race — and if Giolito can give them 4 clean after Peralta's inning, this turns into a bullpen-vs-bullpen game where San Diego has the edge.