• Weathers added to NLDS roster.
Padres General Manager A.J. Preller has always said his prospects will dictate how fast they move in the system.
It's clearly not a throwaway company line.
Left-hander Ryan Weathers — who will not turn 21 until December and has not pitched above low Single-A — became the third major leaguer to make his MLB debut this postseason Tuesday after an impressive summer camp and stint at USD led the Padres to add him to the NLDS roster.
He was needed because of the injuries that have dogged the Padres heading into the postseason and Mike Clevinger's early exit forced Weathers into action in the third inning. He walked two batters during a scoreless 11⁄ innings that in
3 cluded striking out reigning NL Cody Bellinger before exiting with his parents applauding from their seats at the almost empty Globe Life Field.
“He's always been a strike-thrower,” Preller said. “He's continued to get better over the last few months. In terms of the individual, the makeup, personality, the competitor, a lot of faith there. He's taken each opportunity. Going into last offseason, he knew he had some work to do. He put in a lot of time and effort to come into spring training in a good spot.”
Tampa Bay's Shane McClanahan on Monday became the first pitcher to ever make his big-league debut in the postseason, while Twins outfielder Alex Kirilloff debuted in the wild-card round. Both finished 2019 in Double-A.
Meantime, Weathers, a starting pitcher, was not even particularly sharp last year at low Single-A Fort Wayne, but he's done all he can to f lip the script in 2020.
The No. 7 overall pick in the 2018 draft, Weathers went 3-7 with a 3.84 ERA, 90 strikeouts and a 1.24 WHIP in his first full year (2019). He spent time on the shelf with arm fatigue, saw his ERA balloon to 4.44 after the AllStar break, his WHIP jump to 1.37 and his conditioning was called into question.
A year later, Weathers pushed his fastball velocity up to 97 mph while generating buzz in camp. He continued to progress in his work at USD to force his way into the playoff “bubble” last week and was ultimately added as one of five left-handed arms on the NLDS roster.
“He's talented,” Preller said. “He's got a lot of ability. He came out last year, he was pretty dominant, pretty lights out the first month, close to two months in Fort Wayne. I just think the reality of going from a high school season, we asked a lot of him. … It probably got to a point where the high school season would normally be ending, the minor league season was still in full gear. I think he ran out of steam, which is really natural and normal for a high school player.”
Weathers most likely will continue to be used in relief, although Preller did not rule out the possibility of him starting a game for an injury-depleted staff.
Latest on Lamet
The good news Tuesday morning for the Padres was Mike Clevinger was good to go for the Game 1 start. As for Dinelson Lamet, he played catch — on Friday, Sunday and Monday — but had not progressed enough for the Padres to count on him in the NLDS.
The NLCS, should the Padres advance past the Dodgers, remains a possibility for Lamet, who left his last regular-season start with tightness in his biceps.
The Padres have not formally discussed a diagnosis.
“We've had lot of conversations with the medical staff, doctors,” Preller said. “… Really it's a day-to-day thing. … Has the green light to throw, (bull)pens, he just didn't get to that point over the last few days where we felt like he was full-go and ready to be part of this roster.”
Even before Clevinger's early exit, Padres manager Jayce Tingler said he'd have to see how Tuesday went before settling on tonight's Game 2 starter.
“We have two to three options that we feel good about,” Tingler said.
Right-handers Chris Paddack and Zach Davies — the Game 1 and 2 starters from the previous round — likely top that list. Lefthander Adrian Morejon might also be pressed into a start if not used in relief.
At home, kinda
Clayton Kershaw wears No. 22 because he worshipped Will Clark, who played five years in Arlington, Texas, after leaving the San Francisco Giants.
Mark McLemore, Rusty Greer, Kevin Elster, Otis Nixon.
Those were the Rangers that Kershaw, a Dallas native, watched a handful of times a year at The Ballpark in Arling ton. Incredibly, it was never his turn to pitch when the Dodgers have visited in interleague play, nor was it when the Dodgers visited for a three-game set at new Globe Life Field in late August.
“I'll get to pitch here (today in Game 2) and that'll be good enough,” Kershaw said. “That's cool.”
Greg for Greg swap
Greg Garcia, the most experienced pinch-hitter on the roster, did not appear in any of last week's wild-card games against the Cardinals. The Valhalla High product was replaced on the NLDS roster by another San Diegan: outfielder Greg Allen of Hilltop High and San Diego State fame.
The 27-year-old switchhitting Allen has range that will be a plus in Globe Life Field's spacious dimensions.
Jurickson Profar's ability to play the infield and the outfield limited Garcia's ability to impact games, especially with the Padres in need of as many live arms as possible for the best-of-five series.