Padres on deck: Visiting Bruce Bochy’s defending world champion Rangers

In the standings

San Diego Padres (46-42, 2nd in NL West)

The Padres took two of three in Boston and have won nine of their last 11 games to reclaim the NL’s second wild-card spot, a half-game up on the Cardinals. The Padres’ plus-34 run differential ranks 10th in the majors. Last year, the Padres swept a three-game set at Petco Park against Bruce Bochy’s Rangers, who went on to win the World Series in his first year in Texas.

Texas Rangers (38-46, 3rd in AL West)

The World Series defense has been a struggle as the Rangers rank 19th in slugging (.376), 20th in ERA (4.12) and 26th in bullpen ERA (4.54). The Rangers have a minus-10 run differential for the season and were 11-16 in both May and June. They are, however, 24-19 at home this season.

Clubhouse leaders

• OPS: Padres – OF Jurickson Profar (.884), OF Fernando Tatis Jr. (.822), OF Jackson Merrill (.792); Rangers – 3B Josh Smith (.835), SS Corey Seager (.796), 1B Nathaniel Lowe (.719).
• Homers: Padres – Tatis (14), 1B Jake Cronenworth (12), Merrill (12); OF Adolis Garcia (16), Seager (15), 2B Marcus Semien (11).
• RBIs: Padres – Profar (55), Cronenworth (53), 3B Manny Machado (45); Rangers – Garcia (44), Semien (44), Seager (37).
• Steals: Padres – SS Ha-Seong Kim (15), Merrill (9), Tatis (8); Rangers – OF Leody Taveras (10), OF Wyatt Langford (7), Garcia 6).
• Saves: Padres – RHP Robert Suarez (20-for-21, 1.09 ERA); Rangers – RHP Kirby Yates (11-for-11, 0.95 ERA).
• Appearances: Padres – LHP Yuki Matsui (39, 3.50 ERA), LHP Wandy Peralta (38, 3.94 ERA), RHP Enyel De Los Santos (37, 3.78 ERA); Rangers – LHP Jacob Latz (35, 3.31 ERA), RHP David Robertson (33, 3.34 ERA), RHP Jose Leclerc (31, 4.25 ERA).

Pitching matchups

Tuesday

Padres RHP Dylan Cease (7-6, 3.84 ERA)   |   He snapped an eight-start slump (6.43 ERA) with nine strikeouts over seven shutout, one-hit innings to beat the Nationals. Cease has a 4.01 ERA in nine starts so far away from Petco Park. He has a 4.82 ERA in six career starts against the Rangers, including allowing nine runs in 7⅔ innings across two starts last year.

Rangers RHP Nathan Eovaldi (4-3, 3.45 ERA)   |   He allowed five runs in seven innings in his last start in Milwaukee, but has a 2.22 ERA in eight home starts this year. Eovaldi has a 4.11 ERA in six starts against the Padres and he allowed two runs in three innings in his last start against the Padres, back in 2019 as a member of the Red Sox rotation.

Wednesday

Padres RHP Adam Mazur (1-2, 7.25 ERA)   |   The 23-year-old rookie has a 9.32 ERA over his last four starts, but he walked one over five innings in earning his first win last week against the Nationals. Mazur also did not strike out anyone in that game and has 11 strikeouts against 17 walks on th3 season.

Rangers RHP Jon Gray (3-4, 3.77 ERA)   |   He has allowed 17 earned runs over his last three starts, and that includes six shutout innings sandwiched between two clunkers. Gray has a .519 OPS against right-handed hitters and a .882 OPS against left-handed hitters. He last faced the Padres in 2021, allowing 14 runs — eight earned — in 23⅔ innings across four starts in the Rockies’ rotation.

Thursday

Padres RHP Michael King (6-5, 3.61 ERA)   |   Even with his five-run hiccup against the Brewers, King has a 2.78 ERA over his last eight starts, holding hitters to a .652 OPS over a stretch when he has completed at least five innings seven times. King hadn’t allowed a home run in five starts before giving up a solo shot in six innings to the Red Sox on Saturday. King allowed two runs — one earned — in 4 ⅓ innings over three relief appearances against the Rangers last year.

Rangers RHP Max Scherzer (1-1, 1.74 ERA)   |   The 17-year veteran is making his third start of the season after undergoing surgery in December to repair a herniated disc. His pitch count has progressed from 57 pitches (5 IP, 0 ER) to 77 (5⅓ IP, 2 ER). Scherzer had a 4.50 ERA over two starts last year against the Padres and is 7-4 with a 3.02 ERA in 19 career starts against San Diego.

Training room

San Diego   |   RHP Randy Vásquez’s negatives were negative. He was struck by a line drive on Friday in his right forearm. He is day-to-day. C Luis Campusano (thumb) is beginning a rehab assignment in Lake Elsinore, while LHP Tom Cosgrove (elbow) hit the injured list over the weekend. 2B Xander Bogaerts (shoulder) is nearing a rehab assignment, RHP Joe Musgrove (elbow) and RHP Yu Darvish (elbow) are throwing, while RF Fernando Tatis Jr. (quad) is without a timetable.

Texas   |   SS Corey Seager exited Saturday’s game after he was hit on the wrist by a pitch. X-rays were negative but he did not play Sunday. RHP Jacob deGrom is throwing bullpens in continuing his push to return from Tommy John surgery after the All-Star break. LHP Cody Bradford is on the 60-day injured list with a low back strain/stress fracture on a rib. He was due back in June and is behind schedule.  RHP Tyler Mahle (Tommy John) could also return before the end of the month, as could 3B Josh Jung (wrist fracture) and OF Evan Carter (back).