Padres pregame: Against another lefty, Donovan Solano getting rare second straight start

Facing a second straight left-hander to start a game, Donovan Solano will start back-to-back games for just the second time since Xander Bogaerts’ activation in mid-July. .

This time, it’s Luis Arraez sitting as Jake Cronenworth will return to first base after sitting Wednesday’s finale against the Dodgers.

Solano is hitting .306/.383/.431 against left-handers this year, including the walk-off hit in the pinch for Cronenworth on Tuesday.

Solano will hit second as the DH to start a three-game series against the Colorado Rockies.

Cronenworth and rookie Jackson Merrill are the lone lefties in Friday’s lineup.

Cronenworth is hitting .193/.265/.252 against lefties, while Merrill is hitting .211/.241/.349.

They will hit fifth and seventh, respectively.

Meantime, Arraez is hitting .283/.303/.359 against lefties.

Without Arraez in the lineup, Jurickson Profar will serve as the leadoff hitter. Switch-hitter Bryce Johnson will get a second consecutive start against a left-handed starting pitcher, while Kyle Higashioka will start behind the plate.

Here is how the Rockies will line up for the opener:

Friday’s pitching matchup

Rockies LHP Austin Gomber (2-7, 4.79 ERA)

He has allowed one run in 11 innings over two starts this year against the Padres, striking out seven against five walks. Gomber, however, has a 6.91 ERA over his last three starts (14⅓ IP).

Here is how he has fared against current Padres:

Padres RHP Randy Vásquez (3-6, 4.82 ERA)

He’s coming off his worst start of the season, as he allowed six runs, tied for a season-high, on four hits and a season-high four walks over a season-low two innings. Vásquez has allowed nine runs in 6⅓ innings this season against the Rockies.

Here is how Vasquez has fared against current Rockies:

Originally Published: August 2, 2024 at 4:03 p.m.