Padres pregame: Tatis returns to shortstop after Cronenworth injury

After 21 games as an outfielder, Fernando Tatis Jr. is back at shortstop.

“Let’s do it,” Tatis said Saturday afternoon, recounting his reaction when he was told he would be back at his natural and preferred position.

The return to the infield is not made under the most ideal of circumstances, coming as it does because Jake Cronenworth suffered a fracture of his left ring finger when he was hit by pitch Friday night. Cronenworth will miss at least the next couple days and could be headed for the 10-day injured list. (Eric Hosmer was sidelined 11 days with a similar injury last season.)

Tatis will start at shortstop Saturday against the Dodgers, his first game at the position since July 30. That is the night he suffered his fifth left shoulder dislocation since mid-March. While on the injured list for 16 days, the Padres transitioned him to the outfield. The thought was he would see fewer opportunities and have more time to make decisions on how to play balls hit his way, thus maximizing the probability the National League home run leader would stay healthy.

“It’s going to be a little harder, because the plays are quicker,” Tatis said of staying off the ground and protecting his shoulder at shortstop. “But nothing is impossible.”

Manager Jayce Tingler said there was little question internally on what the Padres would do to replace Cronenworth

“Over the last month, he’s done a great job at exercises, the range of motion and strengthening the shoulder,” Tingler said. “The training group feels it’s arguably as strong as it has ever been throughout the year. ... Obviously, he’s got to be smart and under control, but we also understand that’s going to be a part of the game. With 22 to go, his shoulder being strong and stable and in a pretty good spot, we thought that would be best.”

Tatis has worn a shoulder harness during games since his return from the IL on Aug. 15. He has also spent time before and after games strengthening the shoulder, which is expected to require arthroscopic surgery after the season even as Tatis has said he prefers to avoid a procedure.

“I’ve been on it every single day,” he said Saturday. “I’ve bene playing smart, doing my therapy and exercise. I feel in a really good place.”

While doing what was required to be on the field, Tatis has also been clear about his intention to return to shortstop in 2022.

He has clearly not had the same energy while standing in right or center field. Teammates, coaches and fans have noticed the missing piece of Tatis’ game.

“I mean, I was by myself,” he said. “Nobody to talk to. I feel that’s a big part of it.”

Asked Saturday if he will be happier at shortstop, Tatis replied, “I’ll be happier when we secure a playoff spot. You’ve just got to keep grinding. It doesn’t matter what position I’m playing whether I will be happy or not. ... When we start winning, that will make me happy.”

The Padres had said all along Tatis could play shortstop at some point this season. He has taken ground balls several times and recently began working there more intensely in pregame drills.

Tatis said Tingler didn’t say anything when the manager passed him in the clubhouse late Friday night.

“He gave me a look,” Tatis said. “I knew right away. I was like, ‘Yeah, this is it.’ He gave me a look . (With) the situation. Everybody knew what was going on.”

The team’s hand was essentially forced by Cronenworth’s finger. Ha-seong Kim is a capable defensive replacement but is batting .203 this season.

The Padres can’t afford to insert another hole in their lineup.

They have scored in one or no innings in 10 of their past 25 games. Friday night was the fifth time they have been shut out in the 25-game run that began Aug. 11.

They are batting .207 and averaging 3.48 runs in those games, both the lowest marks in the majors over the past month.

Tatis being in the outfield has limited playing time for others, particularly Tommy Pham. He will make his eighth start in the past 19 games Saturday after starting 102 of the team’s first 122 games. Pham was batting .244 with a respectable .751 OPS on Aug. 17, the Padres’ 122nd game. He is 4-for-32 (.125) with a .490 OPS since.

“It certainly gets those outfielders back in the mix on a more daily basis,” Tingler said. “We’ve got to get some of those guys going these last 22 games.”

The task Saturday night won’t be easy — though Walker Buehler is the one Dodgers starter against which the Padres scored in their series last month at Petco Park. They managed an unearned run on three hits, a walk and an error in his 6 2/3 innings on Aug. 25.

Buehler, who has gone at least six innings in 26 of his 28 starts, is coming off his worst outing of the season. The Giants scored six runs (all earned) and knocked him from the game after three innings this past Sunday in San Francisco.

This is Buehler’s fourth start of the season against the Padres, who have scored five runs (four earned) in 19 2/3 innings against him.

(baseball-reference)

This is how the Padres have done this season against the right-hander, whose 2.31 ERA ranks second in the National League behind the 2.28 of teammate Max Scherzer (who starts against the Padres tomorrow):

(baseball-reference)

Chris Paddack will make his first start against the Dodgers this season. He is 1-2 with a 6.94 ERA against them in five career starts.

Here is how the Dodgers have fared against Paddack, who has a 2.91 ERA (seven runs, 21 2/3 innings) over his past four starts:

(baseball-reference)