Padres notes: Going back in time with starters in St. Louis; Tatis about to join select group

The Padres head into what could be a decisive series in St. Louis with a starting rotation that would have been a killer 1-2-3 in the first half of 2016.

Vince Velasquez will start Friday, Yu Darvish on Saturday and Jake Arrieta on Sunday against the Cardinals, who lead the race for the National League’s final wild-card spot by a half-game over the Padres.

That’s one starter (Velasquez) signed Wednesday, one signed Aug. 16 (Arrieta) and the relative longtime San Diegan (Darvish), who was acquired in a December trade.

It’s also three guys who had a combined 2.77 ERA the first three months of the 2016 season while pitching for the Phillies, Rangers and Cubs, respectively.

The trio has a collective 9.43 ERA in 23 starts since the beginning of July.

Velasquez has not made a big-league start since July 30, Darvish has gone longer than four innings five times in 10 starts and Arrieta has gone longer than four innings once in eight starts.

The Padres still could be in a tough spot after using seven relievers to get through Thursday’s 7-4 victory over the Giants.

Velasquez maxed out at 63 pitches on a minor league rehab assignment. He was on the injured list when the Phillies released him Tuesday.

The Padres have 11 relievers on their roster, but at least a few will be unavailable Friday.

That likely includes closer Mark Melancon, who has pitched the past three days.

“We’ll see how he feels tomorrow,” manager Jayce Tingler said. “I don’t want to rule anything out because he’s pretty resilient. There’s a chance he’s down, but it also wouldn’t surprise me if he gets out there and says he’s feeling well.”

It is possible that in addition to adding Velasquez to the roster (he was signed to a minor league deal) the Padres will activate one of the pitchers on their taxi squad, either Reiss Knehr or James Norwood.

Almost ready

Jake Cronenworth took grounders at shortstop, then second base, then switched gloves and did work at first base Thursday morning.

Cronenworth’s left middle and ring finger were taped together, and they had been sprayed with a numbing substance.

“I’m going to feel it more in the field,” said Cronenworth, who suffered a fractured ring finger Sunday in Los Angeles and missed the entire series here.

Cronenworth could start Friday against the Cardinals. Where that first start comes is just as big a question as when.

“He’ll probably play all three,” Tingler said, meaning Cronenworth will likely move around.

His returning at shortstop, where he started the 30 games before his injury, would mean Fernando Tatis Jr. goes back to the outfield. The Padres might not be inclined to make that switch after Tatis went 6-for-8 with two walks over the past two games.

Additionally, second baseman Adam Frazier is back to being the hit machine the Padres acquired in a July trade. After an 11-game skid in which he was 4-for-24, Frazier is 12-for-29 over his past eight games and 8-for-12 with a walk in the past three games.

Cronenworth could fit in immediately at first base, where he made his major league debut and even played in the All-Star Game. Eric Hosmer was 1-for-14 with six strikeouts over the past three games.

Select company

Tatis on Thursday hit his 39^th home run of the season, placing him one shy of becoming just the fifth Padres player to reach 40.

Greg Vaughn’s 50 homers in 1998 stand as the franchise record. Phil Nevin hit 41 in 2001. Ken Caminiti (1996) and Adrian Gonzalez (2009) hit 40.

Tatis’ next home run will also put him among an exclusive group of players who in the history of baseball have had a 40-homer season in or before their age-22 season.

That group, in its entirety: Hall of Famers Mel Ott (1929), Joe DiMaggio (1937), Eddie Matthews (1953 and ‘54) and Johnny Bench (1970); and Juan Gonzalez (1992), Alex Rodriguez (1998), Bryce Harper (2015) and Vladimir Guerrero (2021).