Padres pregame: The plan for the next three games

A day after clinching postseason berth, Padres third baseman Manny Machado getting first day off since July 1

Oct. 3, 2022 5:03 PM PT

The Padres’ season will continue past Wednesday.

That means the focus the next three days will not solely be on the games against the Giants as the Padres circle Friday’s wild-card series on their calendar.

“There isn’t a game that you don’t lace your shoes up and go out there and expect to win and that’ll be the case,” Padres manager Bob Melvin said. “But there will be some cycling guys in, there will be guys getting days off, there will be a little bit more of a scripted bullpen to make sure guys are ready and on what day and who’s pitched and so forth.

“So there’s a balance to that.”

The balance on Monday — first pitch for the first of a three-game series against the Giants is at 6:40 p.m. — has Manny Machado out of the lineup for the first time since July 1, when he was making his way back from the ankle injury that surprisingly did not force him to the injured list.

Machado is hitting .268/.337/.518 with 20 homers and 55 RBIs in 80 games since his last full day off.

In Machado’s place, Brandon Drury will get the start at third base and in the three-hole and Brandon Dixon will start at DH and bat ninth.

Jurickson Profar is also getting a rest day as Wil Myers gets his first start since Sept. 28, in left field and batting sixth. Austin Nola also is giving way to rookie Luis Campusano behind the plate.

Before the game, among the Giants’ moves was placing third baseman Evan Longoria on the injured list with a right thumb fracture.

That will leave Wilmer Flores to play third base.

Monday’s pitching matchup

Giants RHP John Brebbia (6-2, 3.14 ERA)

The 32-year-old will start a bullpen game. He leads the NL with 74 appearances, which includes nine starts as an opener. Brebbia has maxed out at two innings in that role. Against the Padres this year, he has struck out two and allowed two runs – one earned – in five innings of work in relief.

Padres RHP Joe Musgrove (10-7, 3.03 ERA)

He’ll make his final regular season start at Petco Park, where he has a 3.06 ERA in 15 starts this year. Musgrove is 2-0 with a 1.30 ERA, 25 strikeouts and an 0.83 WHIP in four starts (27 2/3 IP) this year against the Giants.