Tuesday was a big day for San Diego Padres closer Robert Suarez.
Earlier in the day, he found out that he would become the team’s fourth representative in the All-Star Game, replacing injured Atlanta Braves starter Chris Sale. And later that night, Suarez registered his MLB-high 26th save to seal his team’s 1-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Suarez could get another chance to pad that growing save total Wednesday night when the teams meet for the third of a four-game series in San Diego.
He’ll join setup man Jason Adam, third baseman Manny Machado and right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. at the All-Star Game in Atlanta. That Suarez wasn’t originally selected probably stemmed from an earned run average that was 7.84 during the month of June. In July, he’s given up one run in four innings and earned three saves.
“Just look at our bullpen,” Adam said Sunday to MLB.com after making his first All-Star Game. “It’s stacked with guys that could and should be getting this nod.”
Suarez was an All-Star last season, when he logged 36 saves. He has converted all but three of his 29 chances this year.
While Suarez will be working during the break next week, San Diego’s Wednesday starter, Dylan Cease (3-8, 4.62 ERA), won’t. His inconsistent season took another downturn on July 2 when he lost 5-1 at Philadelphia in his most recent start. Cease allowed eight hits and four runs over six innings with no walks and four strikeouts.
Cease is 1-1 with a 2.49 ERA in three career starts against Arizona, striking out 24 and walking just two. All three of his wins this year have come at home, including his last start at Petco Park on June 21 against Kansas City.
The Diamondbacks counter with right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (8-6, 5.42), who’s coming off a 7-2 loss Thursday against San Francisco. Pfaadt yielded six hits and four runs in six innings, walking two and striking out eight. He’s 1-2 with a 3.48 ERA in six career starts against San Diego.
Arizona could be excused if it felt, well, a little snake-bit Tuesday night. Corbin Carroll and Josh Naylor were each robbed of homers when Jackson Merrill and Fernando Tatis Jr. went over the wall to bring back fifth- and eighth-inning drives, respectively.
Even good news didn’t pan out for the Diamondbacks. All-Star second baseman Ketel Marte (right groin) was back in the lineup after missing Monday night’s game but struck out with the bases loaded to end the seventh, one of two times Arizona stranded three.
Scoring runs and getting leads generally hasn’t been the Diamondbacks’ problem this year. Protecting leads has been dicey as a bullpen that’s lost three closers to the injured list, including Shelby Miller before Monday night’s 6-3 win, has consistently struggled.
Minus Miller, manager Torey Lovullo plans to play the matchup game. Kevin Ginkel got the save chance Monday night and delivered but the likes of Jalen Beeks, Kyle Backhus and Juan Morillo could also get opportunities in the ninth.
“We’re going to piece it together the best way we can,” Lovullo said. “I’m not going to say anybody’s going to close the game.”
–Field Level Media
