Padres Pregame: Wil Myers back in center for first time in almost three years

The Padres will strive once more at Dodger Stadium.

This time with one other twist.

Wil Myers’ reunion tour along with his outdated positions continues as he begins in middle discipline Saturday night within the second of three video games right here in opposition to the Dodgers.

“It’s nice I used to be in a position to move the torch on to Juan Soto,” Wil Myers mentioned of not taking part in solely in proper discipline.

That’s the place Myers performed virtually completely since his final look in middle discipline on Sept. 21, 2019. (His final begin in middle was two days earlier.)

“It’s good to have the ability to play some completely different spots, discover some completely different locations within the lineup to get in and simply be capable to assist,” Myers mentioned. “Excited to play some middle tonight. Gonna get some reads on the market and hopefully run some balls down.”

Within the 4 video games since Brandon Drury’s arrival by way of commerce Wednesday, Myers has began twice. Each instances have been in opposition to left-handers. He performed first base and batted sixth on Thursday. He’s batting seventh Saturday.

“I feel in all probability the primary 5 or 6 spots we’re beginning to choose,” Melvin mentioned Friday.

The highest 5 is similar for the fourth straight recreation (since Soto, Drury and Josh Bell had been acquired in trades).

The one variations within the high six the previous 4 video games had been when Jake Cronenworth didn’t begin Thursday and that the left-handed hitting Soto switched spots with Manny Machado in opposition to a lefty.

Andrew Heaney is the primary of what’s anticipated to be three consecutive left-handed starters the Padres will face. Tyler Anderson will begin Sunday’s collection finale right here, and Alex Wooden is in line to begin for the Giants on Monday at Petco Park.

Heaney (1-0, 0.77) spent greater than a month on the injured checklist with a shoulder harm earlier than returning July 27. He has gone 4 innings in each of his begins, permitting only one run and 5 hits whereas strolling 5 and putting out 11.

Padres beginning pitcher Mike Clevinger has gone seven innings in back-to-back begins and has a 2.83 ERA over his previous seven begins (41 1/3 innings).

Right here is the lineup he’ll face:

The final time Clevinger confronted the Dodgers was within the Nationwide League Division Sequence in 2020. He left after strolling three in a scoreless first inning and had Tommy John surgical procedure a bit greater than a month later.

Irrespective of the start line, the Padres haven’t fared effectively in opposition to the Dodgers.

Not counting that three-game sweep within the 2020 NLDS, they’re 70-136 in opposition to the Dodgers for the reason that begin of the 2011 season. They’ve misplaced 15 of the previous 17 conferences and 10 of the previous 11 at Dodger Stadium. They’re 2-6 in opposition to the Dodgers this season. Of their first recreation in opposition to them with the gamers acquired on the commerce deadline, they misplaced 8-1 on Friday.