Padres Aiming To Overcome Brutal Walk-Off Loss To Royals

The San Diego Padres took a commanding three-run lead over the Kansas City Royals in the 10th inning but failed to hold the lead, dropping the series opener 7-6 on Friday.

It wasn’t the way the Padres wanted to start their second half, especially after an underwhelming first half ended with San Diego 3.5 games out of the final National League wild card spot.

The Padres have had many thrilling games this season, most of them ending in walk-off fashion, but they were on the wrong end of it this time. It was a back-and-forth affair, with the lead changing five times, but San Diego couldn’t come out on top.

In a tight NL playoff race, losing to the 39-59 Royals won’t do you any favors. Evening up the series on Saturday and winning the rubber match on Sunday in imperative for the Padres to salvage the first series of the second half.

San Diego will turn to veteran right-hander Griffin Canning, who has struggled mightily this season but has maintained a spot in the starting rotation purely because of necessity. The Padres’ starting staff was thin coming into the season and has stayed that way, putting even more pressure on the worst offense in the league during the first half of the season.

Canning is just 1-7 with a 6.47 ERA, 1.60 WHIP and 55 strikeouts to 30 walks through 13 appearances (10 starts, 55.2 innings). He has pitched better over his last few outings, but he hasn’t completed five innings since mid-June.

He last worked against the Arizona Diamondbacks in a crucial divisional matchup and tossed 4.2 innings of two-run ball on seven hits while striking out five. Prior to that, he worked four innings in relief against the Los Angeles Dodgers and allowed just one run on two hits and two walks while fanning four.

Canning is set to face the following Royals lineup:

1. Carter Jensen (C)

2. Bobby Witt Jr. (SS)

3. Jac Caglianone (RF)

4. Lane Thomas (CF)

5. Vinnie Pasquantino (1B)

6. Salvador Perez (DH)

7. Michael Massey (2B)

8. Nick Loftin (3B)

9. Isaac Collins (LF)

Canning will go up against veteran reliever Randy Dobnak, who has made just two big-league appearances this season. He has served as the bulk reliever and carries a 1.86 ERA, 1.34 WHIP and four strikeouts over 9.2 innings.

He nearly completed six innings against the New York Mets in his last outing, getting pulled after 5.2 scoreless innings and allowing three runs and three walks while punching out two.

Dobnak will face the following Padres lineup:

1. Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF)

2. Jackson Merrill (CF)

3. Xander Bogaerts (SS)

4. Manny Machado (3B)

5. Gavin Sheets (LF)

6. Ty France (1B)

7. Jake Cronenworth (2B)

8. Miguel Andujar (DH)

9. Freddy Fermin (C)

First pitch is at 1:10 p.m. PDT on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.