San Diego Padres manager Craig Stammen saw something in Fernando Tatis Jr.’s at‑bats on Friday night that many might have overlooked. Despite Tatis going 0‑for‑2 with a walk as the team was held to one hit in a 6‑0 shutout by the St. Louis Cardinals, Stammen appreciated his approach. He moved Tatis back to the No. 2 spot on Saturday, and the move paid off with a two‑run single that proved decisive in a 4‑2 victory.
Now, with a chance to help San Diego split the four‑game series, Tatis looks to rediscover his usual offensive firepower when the teams meet on Sunday. The star outfielder has yet to hit a home run through the Padres’ first 39 games, a drought that has sparked questions about whether the club should consider trading him. But Stammen is not ready to answer that $340 million question.
“I feel like he’s making some good decisions at the plate,” Stammen said. “He’s been working hard in the cage and making some adjustments. I also think the pitchers fear him, even if he isn’t hitting as many home runs as we expect.”
Tatis is batting just .248 with 15 RBIs and a team‑high nine steals in 12 attempts. The 2021 National League home run champion (42 homers) averaged over 25 homers in his first six MLB seasons.
While Tatis and the Padres’ offense—which has managed only 10 hits in the series—try to make more solid contact, right‑hander Walker Buehler (2‑2, 5.64 ERA) aims for his second straight win. He earned a 10‑5 decision in San Francisco on Tuesday, allowing four runs and seven hits in 5 1/3 innings with no walks and five strikeouts. Lifetime, Buehler is 3‑0 with a 3.90 ERA in five career starts against the Cardinals, striking out 35 in 30 innings.
St. Louis counters with right‑hander Kyle Leahy (4‑3, 4.93 ERA), who last pitched on Monday and beat Milwaukee 6‑3. Leahy allowed one run on six hits over 5 1/3 innings, walking two and striking out five. In three career appearances against San Diego, he has thrown 5 1/3 scoreless innings. This season, however, he has often run into trouble after the fifth inning—eight of the 10 batters he has faced in the sixth have reached base, and five have scored.
“It still comes down to execution and the physical piece of everything—just getting over that hurdle,” Leahy said.
The Cardinals saw a six‑game road winning streak end on Saturday but put up a fight. They loaded the bases in the ninth inning on two walks and a wild pitch on strike three to Yohel Pozo before Mason Miller slipped a 101 mph fastball by JJ Wetherholt for a called
