San Diego Padres DVOA, Stats, & MLB Rankings

Miami Marlins closer Tanner Scott took the loss in a 9-7 extra-inning defeat against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Scott was tasked with the 10th inning of a tied game but allowed a hit, a walk, and committed an error. This led to two Pirates runs, which was enough to saddle Scott with the loss. The walks are a big concern for the 29-year-old, who has never had much command in his career, although he was able to control his pitches better last season. He has now walked three hitters in two innings so far this season, and if he continues down this path he could relinquish the closer role.

San Diego Padres catcherLuis Campusanois out of the starting lineup for Saturday night's game against the San Francisco Giants.Kyle Higashiokagets the start behind the plate instead of Campusano, hitting .333 (6 hits in 18 at-bats) with two RBI on the season thus far. Campusano was considered a fantasy sleeper this year and will likely be back in the lineup for the series finale with the San Francisco Giants on Sunday afternoon. Campusano will get about 75% of the starts behind the plate for the Padres this year. He should be rostered in all leagues that require two catchers. Higashioka can be avoided in a tough matchup against Giants right-hander Jordan Hicks.

San Diego Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. went 2-for-4 with two solo home runs and a strikeout in the team's 8-3 loss to the visiting San Francisco Giants on Friday night. He and Manny Machado's home runs were the only runs the team scored on the night as they took the loss against left-hander Kyle Harrison. Tatis' first home run off of Harrison in the sixth inning was a mammoth shot, traveling 441 feet to left field. In his first four games of the 2024 season, the 25-year-old has been hot, going 6-for-16 (.375) with the two home runs, three RBI and four runs scored in 18 plate appearances. He's only struck out twice while walking once. Tatis may never reach his pre-PED numbers again, but he can still do everything on the baseball field and is one of the most exciting players in baseball.

San Diego Padres relief pitcher Robert Suarez notched his second save of the season in a 6-4 win over the San Francisco Giants. Suarez did allow a two-out homer to Michael Conforto, but got the job done nonetheless. It appears as though Suarez will get the bulk of the save opportunities for the Padres, at least early on, making him a solid source of saves. The 31-year-old should be rostered in all leagues where saves count.

The San Diego Padres have optioned right-hander Randy Vasquez to Triple-A El Paso to begin the 2024 regular season. Vasquez was acquired from the New York Yankees over the winter in the blockbuster trade involving outfielder Juan Soto, and he came to San Diego in competition for the final starting rotation spot. However, a poor spring showing (6.23 ERA with five walks and nine strikeouts in 8 2/3 Cactus League innings) sealed his fate. The 25-year-old will begin the year down on the farm, but the Friars will surely need him to make starts at some point at the big-league level this year given SD's questionable rotation depth. Vasquez could become an option for fantasy managers in NL-only leagues this year, but he has a low ceiling in mixed leagues as a streamer.