Manny Machado will bat cleanup for the San Diego Padres in their series opener against the Texas Rangers on Friday night. He went 1-for-3 with an RBI in the Padres' 6-1 win over the St. Louis Cardinals.
What happened?
The San Diego Padres announced their starting lineup ahead of the series opener, with Machado batting fourth for the second consecutive game.
Why it matters for Manny Machado
Machado has primarily been the Padres' No. 4 hitter this season, batting .197 with a 93 WRC+ in that spot. He has 46 hits, 11 doubles, 12 home runs, 33 runs, and 36 RBIs in 71 games.
What comes next?
The Padres will face the Texas Rangers, who have announced their starting lineup with Jacob deGrom as the starting pitcher. DeGrom has a 5-4 record and a 3.17 ERA across 76.2 innings this season.
Machado's move to the cleanup spot comes after he has struggled at the plate, with a current batting average of .177. He has seven years remaining on his original 11-year, $350 million contract.
The Padres have fallen to 38-35 and are nine games back of the Los Angeles Dodgers. They have gone 5-5 over their last 10 games.
Randy Vásquez will make his 15th start of the season for the Padres, entering Friday's matchup with a 6-4 record and a 3.63 ERA across 74.1 innings.
The Texas Rangers' lineup includes Josh Pederson as the designated hitter and Jacob Jung at third base. The series opener is set to begin on Friday night at Globe Life Field.
Machado's performance will be closely watched as the Padres look to turn their season around. He has not finished with an OPS of over .800 since the 2022 season.
The Padres' offense has struggled, with Machado not being the only player to struggle at the plate. The team will look to deGrom to shut down the Padres' lineup.
The series between the Padres and Rangers is set to be an exciting one, with both teams looking to gain ground in their respective divisions. Machado's move to the cleanup spot adds an extra layer of intrigue to the series.
The Padres will look to build on their win over the Cardinals, while the Rangers will look to bounce back from their recent losses. The series opener is set to be a thrilling matchup between two talented teams.
Machado's batting average of .177 is currently the lowest of his career. He will look to turn his season around and help the Padres make a push for the playoffs.
The Texas Rangers have a strong lineup, with players like Josh Pederson and Jacob Jung. The Padres will need to be at the top of their game to take down the Rangers.
The series between the Padres and Rangers is set to be a closely contested one. Machado's performance will be key to the Padres' success, and he will look to make a statement in the series opener.
The Padres have a tough road ahead of them, but with Machado batting cleanup, they may have a chance to turn their season around. The series opener is set to begin on Friday night, and it will be an exciting matchup to watch.