Manny Machado on Monday was off his feet for an entire game for the first time since June 9.
Except …
“There’s never a full day off, there’s never a full day off,” Machado said.
It was a wink toward all the pregame preparation that takes place before a baseball game, whether a player is in the lineup or not. Of course, Machado certainly had a bat in hand late in Monday’s 2-1 win over the Pirates just in case.
“At the end of the day, we need to win ballgames and everyone needs to be ready for that, whether it’s myself yesterday being ready for an at-bat or it’s (Donovan) Solano coming up (for a) game-winning base-hit or double or even hitting a home run,” Machado said. “I think everyone knows that. It’s about winning ballgames. We all have to be ready for whatever situation comes up.
“I’m glad I got a full day off, but I was definitely ready for sure.”
The eighth inning might have been a lane for Machado, but in a 1-0 game with one out and nobody on, Padres manager Mike Shildt called on switch-hitter Bryce Johnson to pinch-hit for David Peralta against left-hander Jalen Beeks.
Johnson singled. Then Ha-Seong Kim singled to put runners on the corners. After Kim swiped second base, Kyle Higashioka provided a sacrifice fly to left to provide enough cushion to withstand the Pirates’ mini ninth-inning uprising without needing Machado.
A day later, Machado is back in the lineup — at third base and in the clean-up spot — as the Padres look to secure an eighth straight series victory.
Tuesday’s first pitch is at 6:40 p.m.
Machado is hitting .269/.318/.444 with 18 homers and 68 RBIs. He was hitting .292/.326/.525 with 12 homers while playing in 50 straight games. His last day off was in early June while dealing with a hip injury.
Machado’s return will send Solano back to the bench as Luis Arraez will serve as the designated hitter and leadoff hitter against Pirates right-hander Luis Ortiz.
Lining up behind the King. pic.twitter.com/uI9yHbCDSJ
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 13, 2024
The Pirates (56-62) have lost eight in a row to fall out of serious contention for a wild-card spot, with four in that tailspin coming at the hands of the Padres.
Here is how Pittsburgh, six games behind the Mets in the race for the NL’s last wild-card spot, will line up Tuesday:
Game 2 vs. the Padres.
📺 @SNPittsburgh
📻 @937theFan | The PRN #LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/dFPI68TvGI— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 13, 2024
Tuesday’s pitching matchup
Pirates RHP Luis Ortiz (5-2, 3.40 ERA)
He’s got a 7.16 ERA over his last three starts (16⅓ IP), including allowing four runs in six innings in a no-decision last week against the Padres in Pittsburgh. Ortiz has allowed six home runs over his last three starts.
Here is how he’s fared against current Padres:
Padres RHP Michael King (9-6, 3.34 ERA)
He allowed four runs — three earned — in five innings in last week’s no-decision in Pittsburgh, his shortest start since June 18 in Philadelphia. King has allowed just two homers over his last 11 starts (2.56 ERA).
Here is King’s history with current Pirates:
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