The San Diego Padres are red-hot, having won its last eight games and 12 of 14 games in April after completing a sweep of the Seattle Mariners.
After a cold start, the San Diego Padres are red-hot and have won eight consecutive games coming into play on Friday.
The Padres completed a sweep of the Seattle Mariners on Thursday after the offense generated 10 hits and the pitching staff allowed just two runs during San Diego’s 5-2 win.
Right-hander Walker Buehler pitched five innings of two-run ball on five hits and one walk with seven strikeouts while the bullpen allowed just one hit and one walk with five strikeouts over the final four innings, including another perfect inning and save from right-handed closer Mason Miller in which he struck out the side.
Miller continues his unreal streak of dominance and has cemented himself as the best closer in Major League Baseball without a doubt. He is up to six saves and hasn’t allowed a run on just one hit and one walk through 9.1 innings. Miller has struck out 23 batters and has a minuscule 0.21 WHIP.
Only shortstop Xander Bogaerts failed to record a hit against the Mariners pitching staff in the finale while third baseman Manny Machado and designated hitter Miguel Andujar each recorded a pair of knocks.
The Padres now set its sights on a three-game road series against the Los Angeles Angels, a team that has hit very well over the past week and owns the fifth-best team OPS (.739) in baseball.
The pitching matchup for the series opener is scheduled to be Padres right-hander Matt Waldron versus Angels righty José Soriano.
Waldron is making his season debut after suffering a thrombosed hemorrhoid, causing him to miss most of spring training and the beginning of the season. With Opening Day starter Nick Pivetta currently on the shelf, Waldron can make a huge impact for San Diego’s starting rotation.
Waldron has had a shaky MLB career, pitching in parts of the last three seasons and owning a 4.86 ERA and 1.29 WHIP over 36 career appearances. Waldron made 26 starts in 2024 and went 7-11 with a 4.91 ERA and 1.26 WHIP across 146.2 innings pitched, impressing many with his signature knuckleball.
Soriano has been the best starting pitcher in MLB to begin the season. He has won each of his four starts and carries a microscopic 0.33 ERA and 0.67 WHIP with 31 strikeouts.
Soriano threw six scoreless two-hit innings against the Houston Astros and Chicago Cubs before throwing eight one-run innings with 10 strikeouts against the Atlanta Braves and seven scoreless two-hit innings with 10 punchouts against the Cincinnati Reds.
Angels center fielder Mike Trout has been hot and has homered in four consecutive games, including a multi-homer game against the New York Yankees on Monday, so the Padres pitching staff must be wary of him during this series.
First pitch is at 8:38 p.m. PDT on MLB.TV and regional sports networks.