Deadspin | Padres’ offense waking up just in time as torrid Pirates await 
Apr 5, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny MacHado (13) celebrates his three run home run against the Boston Red Sox with /right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) during the fifth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images The San Diego Padres are starting to improve following a rough start to the season as they head to Pittsburgh to face the red-hot Pirates on Monday night in the opener of a three-game set.
The Padres won a series for the first time this season when they beat the Red Sox in Boston in back-to-back games, including 8-6 on Sunday.
San Diego’s anemic offense, which entered the day with a major-league-worst .190 batting average and .553 OPS, woke up thanks to Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts and Jackson Merrill, who combined for eight of the Padres’ 12 hits in the Sunday victory.
The Padres will need the production to continue on Monday when they send German Marquez (0-1, 12.00 ERA) to the mound to oppose fellow right-hander Bubba Chandler (0-0, 0.00) as San Diego attempts to stop Pittsburgh’s five-game winning streak.
Machado hit his first home run of the season Sunday as the Padres scored the most runs they’ve had in a game this season. It was only the second time in nine games that San Diego scored more than three runs in a contest.
Both of those games have come during this stretch of three wins in four games.
“Just to see Jackson go 3-for-5, Manny go 2-for-4, and Bogaerts go 3-for-3, if we get those guys moving the baseball the way they did today, we’re going to win a lot of baseball games,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said on Sunday.
Marquez could use the offensive backup following a rough first start last Tuesday against San Francisco. He was pulled after three innings after allowing four runs on eight hits, including a pair of home runs, and one walk. He struck out one on 65 pitches in a 9-3 loss.
Marquez has had success in his career against the Pirates, however, going 6-1 with a 1.89 ERA in seven starts.
Chandler will make his sixth career start and first ever against San Diego.
His first start of the season had mostly positive results with one glaring issue — walks. Chandler tossed 4 1/3 hitless innings, allowed only one unearned run and struck out six in a no-decision in an 8-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. But he walked six and threw 81 pitches.
Chandler touched 100 mph on his fastball but wasn’t happy with his command.
“I just wasn’t executing,” he said after the start. “The confidence was probably not where it needed to be. We had a great lead. My job is to go out there and three up, three down, quick innings, let our boys get back in and hit. I think as the game went on, it was more about trying to go do something, rather than just going out there and doing it.”
Thanks largely to offseason acquisitions Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn, and a strong offensive start by Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh has shown the power at the plate it lacked last season with 12 home runs in nine games.
The Pirates also are seeing offensive production from welcome sources such as Nick Yorke, who started at third base a day after infielder Jared Triolo was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right knee injury.
Yorke delivered the walk-off hit in Saturday’s victory over the Orioles, and had another hit on Sunday. As a corresponding move with Triolo’s IL placement, Pittsburgh recalled outfielder Billy Cook from Triple-A Indianapolis.
–Field Level Media
#Deadspin #Padres #offense #waking #time #torrid #Pirates #await
Apr 5, 2026; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; San Diego Padres third baseman Manny MacHado (13) celebrates his three run home run against the Boston Red Sox with /right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr. (23) during the fifth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Canha-Imagn Images The San Diego Padres are starting to improve following a rough start to the season as they head to Pittsburgh to face the red-hot Pirates on Monday night in the opener of a three-game set.
The Padres won a series for the first time this season when they beat the Red Sox in Boston in back-to-back games, including 8-6 on Sunday.
San Diego’s anemic offense, which entered the day with a major-league-worst .190 batting average and .553 OPS, woke up thanks to Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts and Jackson Merrill, who combined for eight of the Padres’ 12 hits in the Sunday victory.
The Padres will need the production to continue on Monday when they send German Marquez (0-1, 12.00 ERA) to the mound to oppose fellow right-hander Bubba Chandler (0-0, 0.00) as San Diego attempts to stop Pittsburgh’s five-game winning streak.
Machado hit his first home run of the season Sunday as the Padres scored the most runs they’ve had in a game this season. It was only the second time in nine games that San Diego scored more than three runs in a contest.
Both of those games have come during this stretch of three wins in four games.
“Just to see Jackson go 3-for-5, Manny go 2-for-4, and Bogaerts go 3-for-3, if we get those guys moving the baseball the way they did today, we’re going to win a lot of baseball games,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said on Sunday.
Marquez could use the offensive backup following a rough first start last Tuesday against San Francisco. He was pulled after three innings after allowing four runs on eight hits, including a pair of home runs, and one walk. He struck out one on 65 pitches in a 9-3 loss.
Marquez has had success in his career against the Pirates, however, going 6-1 with a 1.89 ERA in seven starts.
Chandler will make his sixth career start and first ever against San Diego.
His first start of the season had mostly positive results with one glaring issue — walks. Chandler tossed 4 1/3 hitless innings, allowed only one unearned run and struck out six in a no-decision in an 8-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday. But he walked six and threw 81 pitches.
Chandler touched 100 mph on his fastball but wasn’t happy with his command.
“I just wasn’t executing,” he said after the start. “The confidence was probably not where it needed to be. We had a great lead. My job is to go out there and three up, three down, quick innings, let our boys get back in and hit. I think as the game went on, it was more about trying to go do something, rather than just going out there and doing it.”
Thanks largely to offseason acquisitions Brandon Lowe and Ryan O’Hearn, and a strong offensive start by Oneil Cruz, Pittsburgh has shown the power at the plate it lacked last season with 12 home runs in nine games.
The Pirates also are seeing offensive production from welcome sources such as Nick Yorke, who started at third base a day after infielder Jared Triolo was placed on the 10-day injured list with a right knee injury.
Yorke delivered the walk-off hit in Saturday’s victory over the Orioles, and had another hit on Sunday. As a corresponding move with Triolo’s IL placement, Pittsburgh recalled outfielder Billy Cook from Triple-A Indianapolis.
–Field Level Media
![Angel Reese’s time in Chicago is officially over The Chicago Sky have traded Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dreams, ending her two-year run as the face of the Sky’s franchise. Reese lands in Atlanta in exchange for the Dream’s first-round picks in 2027 and 2028. As part of the trade, Atlanta also receives the right to swap second-round picks with Chicago in 2028.Reese, a rising third-year player, has been one of the league’s most formidable frontcourt players; she’s a two-time All-Star who has averaged 14.1 points and 12.9 rebounds in her career.“I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to join the Atlanta Dream organization,” Reese said in an official press release. “I’m focused on continuing to grow my game, competing at the highest level, connecting with the fans, and giving everything I’ve got to the Dream.”The relationship between Reese and the Sky organization appeared fractured ever since she was suspended for a game in September for what the organization termed “statements detrimental to the team.”That came after she sat down for an interview with the Chicago Tribune about the state of the organization. Among her remarks, Reese told the Tribune she is “not settling for the same shit we did this year,” and that the team ”[has] to get great players,” among other comments.The Chicago Sky failed to make the playoffs in both of Reese’s first two seasons, finishing with a 10-34 record last season — the second-worst record in the WNBA.The Dream were 30-14 last year, but lost to the Indiana Fever in the first round of the playoffs. They were led by All-Stars Allisha Gray (18.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists), Rhyne Howard (17.5 points, 4.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds), and Brionna Jones (12.8 points, 7.7 rebounds per game).Atlanta Dream general manager Dan Padover praised Reese in an official statement.“Angel is a dynamic talent and a perfect fit for what we are building in Atlanta,” said Padover. “She has already proven herself as one of the most impactful players in the league, and her competitiveness, production, and drive to win align seamlessly with our vision. This is an exciting moment for our organization and our fans.” #Angel #Reeses #time #Chicago #officially](https://i3.wp.com/platform.sbnation.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/2/2026/04/gettyimages-2232943689.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0%2C10.72992968287%2C100%2C78.540140634259&w=1200&ssl=1 "Angel Reese’s time in Chicago is officially over The Chicago Sky have traded Angel Reese to the Atlanta Dreams, ending her two-year run as the face of the Sky’s franchise. Reese lands in Atlanta in exchange for the Dream’s first-round picks in 2027 and 2028. As part of the trade, Atlanta also receives the right to swap second-round picks with Chicago in 2028.Reese, a rising third-year player, has been one of the league’s most formidable frontcourt players; she’s a two-time All-Star who has averaged 14.1 points and 12.9 rebounds in her career.“I’m beyond grateful for the opportunity to join the Atlanta Dream organization,” Reese said in an official press release. “I’m focused on continuing to grow my game, competing at the highest level, connecting with the fans, and giving everything I’ve got to the Dream.”The relationship between Reese and the Sky organization appeared fractured ever since she was suspended for a game in September for what the organization termed “statements detrimental to the team.”That came after she sat down for an interview with the Chicago Tribune about the state of the organization. Among her remarks, Reese told the Tribune she is “not settling for the same shit we did this year,” and that the team ”[has] to get great players,” among other comments.The Chicago Sky failed to make the playoffs in both of Reese’s first two seasons, finishing with a 10-34 record last season — the second-worst record in the WNBA.The Dream were 30-14 last year, but lost to the Indiana Fever in the first round of the playoffs. They were led by All-Stars Allisha Gray (18.4 points, 5.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists), Rhyne Howard (17.5 points, 4.6 assists, 4.5 rebounds), and Brionna Jones (12.8 points, 7.7 rebounds per game).Atlanta Dream general manager Dan Padover praised Reese in an official statement.“Angel is a dynamic talent and a perfect fit for what we are building in Atlanta,” said Padover. “She has already proven herself as one of the most impactful players in the league, and her competitiveness, production, and drive to win align seamlessly with our vision. This is an exciting moment for our organization and our fans.” #Angel #Reeses #time #Chicago #officially")
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