Xander Bogaerts's Stats, Metrics, Game Logs, Projections & Rankings

San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (hamstring) is starting at shortstop and hitting sixth for the Friars for Game 3 of the National League Division Series on Tuesday at Petco Park against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers and right-hander Walker Buehler. Donovan Solano will start on the bench, with David Peralta serving as the designated hitter and batting seventh. Bogaerts had to leave the Game 2 win on Sunday after hitting a home run due to a hamstring cramp, but after a day off on Monday, the 32-year-old is ready to go again. He's gone 3-for-8 with the homer and three RBI in the first two games of the NLDS but has just one hit in seven career at-bats with a strikeout against Buehler. Meanwhile, Peralta, who also homered in Game 2, has hit .226 (7-for-31) with two doubles, three RBI, four walks and six strikeouts against Buehler in his career.

San Diego Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts (hamstring) left Game 2 of the NLDS on Sunday against the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers in the eighth inning due to hamstring cramping. Bogaerts felt the discomfort earlier in the game, but was able to play through it and actually homered in the eighth before leaving. It is most likely a precautionary measure, as the Padres were up 7-1 when Bogaerts was removed. He said he thinks he will be fine, so expect to see him back in the lineup for Game 3 barring a setback.

San Diego Padres second baseman Xander Bogaerts, who moved to second base this year, could potentially be headed back to his former position with Ha-Seong Kim (shoulder) not particularly close to coming off the 10-day injured list. Rookie Mason McCoy has taken over at the 6 in Kim's absence, but the Padres devised that plan as a temporary solution when Kim's return was expected to come sooner. McCoy is solid defensively, but he's hitting just .204 with a .523 OPS. Bogaerts has settled in nicely at the keystone, but moving him back to short would allow Jake Cronenworth to slide from first to second and Luis Arraez from DH to first, freeing up the DH spot for a potential platoon between David Peralta and Donovan Solano. Solano could also play some first base. When Solano pinch hit for McCoy on Sunday, the Padres shifted Bogaerts to short and Cronenworth to second, perhaps a sign of things to come.