How the Padres’ lineup handled the season’s first stress test

Andujar and thrilling late-inning victories

Thankfully, Miguel Andujar has taken the challenge and become one of the Friars’ top run producers. He is hitting .289 with three home runs and 12 RBI in 114 at-bats. Andujar has stabilized the middle of the order. The lone negative is his high strikeout rate (19.5%), which is well above his career average of 15.8%.

Thrilling, late-inning victories have become this team’s trademark. This season, the Friars have won 11 games in the seventh inning or later. A stark contrast from the five wins achieved in 2025. The late-game magic has accounted for nearly half of their 25 wins.

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Gavin Sheets has hit three go-ahead home runs in the ninth inning, including a walk-off three-run blast against the Colorado Rockies at Petco Park in April.

The heroics have masked the inconsistency with the lineup. Stammen might experiment with the lineup’s order to jumpstart the struggling offense.

Preller on the prowl for a bat

Padres President of Baseball Operations and General Manager A.J. Preller is still on the hunt for another bat, as you never have too much hitting on your roster. The absence of Cronenworth proves the gap in the lineup.

Time will tell if the Friars have enough minor-league prospect trade chips to acquire a productive, proven hitter.

The Padres have shocked the world by playing even with the Los Angeles Dodgers at the top of the National League West. They need to dig themselves out of their current predicament and become more productive at the plate. 
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