The Padres haven't been swept all year. They're an inning-for-inning trip away from that changing on Sunday, and the team holding the broom is the Chicago White Sox — not exactly the murderers' row most people had pencilled in to do it. San Diego has dropped four straight at home and managed nine total runs across the skid, including a shutout on Saturday that snapped a 69-game home streak of avoiding one (the longest active mark in the majors before it died).
Griffin Canning gets the ball for the Padres in his first start back off the injured list, which is either a perfectly timed reset or the worst possible spot to be activated into. Canning at least owns this matchup historically — 3-1 with a 2.86 ERA in four career starts against the White Sox. Anthony Kay counters for Chicago carrying a 6.12 ERA, a 1.68 WHIP, and more walks (14) than is comfortable in 25 innings. If San Diego's bats are going to wake up, this is the line they should wake up against.
The bigger problem is the rotation behind Canning. Pivetta (flexor strain), Musgrove (elbow, still playing catch), Darvish (elbow, restricted list), and now German Marquez (forearm nerve irritation, placed on the 15-day IL Sunday) are all unavailable. That's four starting pitchers, and it's the kind of injury list that quietly turns a 20-13 start into a problem if the offense keeps sleepwalking.
- Day-To-DayMason Adams RP — The White Sox announced that Adams underwent successful Tommy John surgery Wednesday, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILKyle Teel C — Teel (hamstring) will run the bases this weekend before beginning a rehab assignment next week if all goes well, Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILAustin Hays LF — The White Sox placed Hays on the 10-day injured list, retroactive to Saturday, due to a left calf strain.
- 10-Day-ILEverson Pereira RF — The White Sox placed Pereira on the 10-day injured list Wednesday due to a right pectoral strain.
- 60-Day-ILMike Vasil RP — The White Sox transferred Vasil (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Tuesday.
- 60-Day-ILTanner Murray LF — The White Sox transferred Murray (shoulder) to the 60-day injured list Monday.
- 60-Day-ILBrooks Baldwin LF — The White Sox transferred Baldwin (elbow) from the 10-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.
- 60-Day-ILKy Bush SP — The White Sox placed Bush (elbow) on the 60-day injured list Feb. 10.
- Day-To-DayBlake Hunt C — Hunt is dealing with an oblique injury and has been shut down from activity, Kevin Acee of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
- 7-day ilJake Cronenworth 2B — The Padres placed Cronenworth on the 7-day concussion injured list Tuesday, AJ Cassavell of MLB.com reports.
- 10-Day-ILLuis Campusano C — The Padres placed Campusano on the 10-day injured list Thursday due to a left toe fracture.
- 15-Day-ILGerman Marquez SP — The Padres placed Marquez on the 15-day injured list Sunday due to right forearm nerve irritation.
- 15-Day-ILNick Pivetta SP — Padres manager Craig Stammen told reporters Wednesday that Pivetta was diagnosed with a right flexor strain, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
- 60-Day-ILJhony Brito RP — Brito (forearm) has been throwing bullpens in Padres camp, per MLB.com.
- 60-Day-ILJoe Musgrove SP — The Padres transferred Musgrove (elbow) to the 60-day injured list on Thursday.
- 60-Day-ILBryan Hoeing RP — The Padres transferred Hoeing (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.
The market still likes the Padres at home — they're -1.5 favorites with the public hammering the over (87% of total handle) and leaning heavily on the White Sox runline (84% of spread handle on the home side, but the bet count's at 59%, so the sharp-ish money is on San Diego covering). Pinnacle has the home moneyline at -156 with a fair probability just under 60%, which feels about right for a team that should be able to beat Anthony Kay even mid-slump.
Bottom line: this should be the get-right game. A returning starter with a track record against this lineup, a Chicago pitcher who walks the yard, and a home crowd that's watched its team get no-hit out of the building two days in a row. If the Padres don't take this one, the conversation about San Diego shifts in a hurry.