Five games and 14 at-bats is a small sample size but things couldn’t be going any better for Gavin Sheets or his new team.
Sheets has been an integral part of the San Diego Padres’ franchise-record 5-0 start, one they’ll look to extend to 6-0 Tuesday night when they continue a three-game series with the visiting Cleveland Guardians.
Sheets starred in Monday night’s 7-2 victory, ripping a two-run double off the right field wall to key a four-run second inning and slicing a two-run double into the left field corner as part of a three-run fifth inning. He added a third hit and walked, boosting him to 7-for-14 with a homer and five RBIs in his new uniform.
So far, that’s quite a turnaround from last year for Sheets on every level. He batted just .233 with 10 homers and 45 RBIs while striking out a career-high 106 times for the Chicago White Sox as they set an MLB record with 121 losses.
While early returns for Chicago indicate it’s much more competitive, the same early returns for San Diego show it might be every bit as dangerous as the 93-win team that gave the World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers their stiffest postseason challenge in 2024. Sheets has been part of that.
“I’m buying into what these guys are teaching me,” he said, specifically mentioning hitting coach Victor Rodriguez. “I’m trusting that I’m going to get my pitch. I’m looking for one zone and making a confident swing.”
While Sheets has added to a deep lineup, the Padres also have gotten excellent pitching, allowing only nine runs and shutting out the Atlanta Braves twice in their opening four-game series. The Padres will look for a better, longer outing from Michael King (0-0, 10.13 ERA), who lasted only 2 2/3 innings on Thursday in a 7-4 win, allowing four hits and three runs. He has yielded just one run in 17 2/3 career innings against Cleveland with a 1-0 mark and 24 strikeouts.
Left-hander Logan Allen will make his season debut for the Guardians. Allen went 8-5 in 2024 but was roughed up for a 5.73 ERA in 97 1/3 innings. He faced San Diego two years ago, escaping with a no-decision despite permitting five runs in three innings.
Cleveland hopes Allen can supply a bit more length than it got Monday night from Luis Ortiz, who worked just 4 2/3 innings and was tagged with all seven runs in the loss. The good news for the Guardians was that Jose Ramirez returned from a one-game absence with a wrist injury and resembled his usual self with three hits, including his first homer of the season.
Another source of satisfaction early has been the work of second-year player Kyle Manzardo, who’s 5-for-13 in four games with a pair of homers and six RBIs. If Manzardo can keep providing power, it could make opponents more reluctant to pitch around Ramirez.
“He could be the anchor of our lineup,” leadoff hitter Steven Kwan said of Manzardo. “He gets to so many pitches. His pop is effortless; he’s a professional hitter, too. He’s not just trying to pull the ball but he’ll capitalize on a mistake.”
–Field Level Media
