August 11, 2024; Miami, FL, USA; San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt (8), shortstop Kim Rivers, during the ninth inning against the Miami Marlins at Rental Park Ha-Seong Kim (7) talks to first base umpire Bill Miller (26) after hitting a baseline double. Mandatory Credit: Sam Navarro-USA TODAY Sports San Diego Padres head coach Mike Shildt is excited to return to St. Louis.
“It's great to be back,” said Shildt, who led the Cardinals to three playoff berths before being fired after the 2021 season. “There's a lot of people you want to meet, a lot of great relationships, a lot of really, really good memories and people. But most importantly, the Padres came in and played great baseball.”
Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill each scored three runs as the Padres won 7-4 in the opener of a four-game series on Monday night. San Diego will be looking for its fourth win in five games when the teams meet again Tuesday night.
The Padres' mood got a boost over the weekend, watching pitcher Yu Darvish and slugger Fernando Tatis Jr. approach their return. Both are expected to come off the injured list at some point in September to compete in the postseason.
“This is becoming a reality,” Merrill said. “We've reached a critical moment and our kids are back, so we're all excited.”
San Diego will start Dylan Cease (12-10, 3.43 ERA) on Tuesday. The right-hander was unlucky in his last outing, allowing three runs on nine hits and two earned runs in 6 1/3 innings against the New York Mets. He struck out seven batters and walked one.
Seth did not face the Cardinals when the two teams met earlier this season. On July 7, 2023, he faced them for the only time in his career, allowing five runs on 11 hits in six innings without a decision. Nolan Arenado hit a two-run homer against him in that game.
The Cardinals will put the ball in the hands of Myles Mikolas (8-10, 5.19 ERA) on Tuesday, who began his career with the Padres in 2012 and 2013.
Mikolas had a stellar performance against the Milwaukee Brewers on Thursday: six scoreless innings and just two hits in St. Louis' 3-0 victory. He struck out three and walked one.
“Going into the end of the season, I knew we had a lot of games against teams that were either going to be in the playoffs or trying to be in the playoffs,” Mikolas said. “So this time of year, every base, every play, every bag, every pitch matters.”
He attributed Thursday's success to some mechanical fixes.
“I think I hide the ball better when I'm throwing it… so it makes guys more honest on the fastball,” Mikolas said. “I think that also helps with my movement on the sinker. It helps make them two very different pitches, one that keeps the line as much as possible and one that just runs and stays in the zone. And get under the ball.
On April 2, Mikolas defeated the Padres 5-2.
He has a 3-2 record with a 2.55 ERA in seven career starts against his former team.
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