There’ve certainly been times in the last 11 weeks that Mike Shildt had discussed a day off for Jurickson Profar, only to be rebuffed.
The Padres manager made sure it wasn’t a discussion this time.
He texted Profar while on the plane back from Tampa Bay that he would not be in Monday’s lineup. With an off-day on Tuesday, it was the optimal time to give Profar his first day out of the lineup since June 22
“I quit trying, I quit trying,” Shildt said Monday afternoon. “This guy … admiration is an appropriate word for Pro. A lot of respect and admiration. This guy loves playing baseball. He loves competing. And there were times we maybe thought about a day for him and he’s like, ‘OK, only if we win today and then we know we won the series, but if we don’t win the series, I’m playing.’
“And so (a day off today) made sense based on tomorrow’s day off, for them to be back to back days off.”
Though he’s certainly had clutch moments throughout this stretch, Profar is hitting .230/.342/.429 with 11 homers and 33 RBIs while starting the last 58 games, all in left field.
On Monday, he’s giving way in left field to David Peralta, who is manning the other side of the outfield as Fernando Tatis Jr. returns from the injured list.
Yer in the lineup, Tati 🪄 pic.twitter.com/vRxvCqxTe4
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 2, 2024
Sitch-hitter Bryce Johnson was optioned to Triple-A El Paso to make room on the active roster and Jose Azocar, currently in El Paso, was designated for assignment to make room on the 40-man roster.
Tatis will hit second in his return to the lineup, between designated hitter Luis Arraez and Donovan Solano, who is starting a first base in place of Jake Cronenworth to face the Tigers’ left-handed opener (see below).
Kyle Higashioka will catch Joe Musgrove.
Here is how the Tigers will line up to start the three-game series:
Today’s Tigers out west ⤵️ pic.twitter.com/bWitUVs4aK
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) September 2, 2024
Monday’s pitching matchup
Tigers LHP Tyler Holton (5-1, 2.44 ERA)
The lefty reliever was announced as an opener, perhaps in front of RHP Kenta Maeda (3-6, 6.14 ERA), who will be on four days rest after allowing two unearned runs in 4⅓ innings in bulk relief on Aug. 28. Maeda has a 3.97 ERA in 34 innings as a reliever this year.
If it is indeed Maeda in bulk relief, here is his history with current Padres:
Padres RHP Joe Musgrove (4-4, 4.44 ERA)
He’s got a 1.66 ERA in four starts since returning from elbow trouble, striking out 19 against four walks over 21⅔ innings. Musgrove threw 94 pitches in his last start and has thrown back-to-back quality starts.
Here is how Musgrove has fared against current Tigers:
