The text that Padres manager Mike Shildt received from Jackson Merrill early Monday morning was better than the one he received a day earlier.
“I don’t know how many people at this time of year feel their absolute best,” Shildt said, “but he’s ready to play.”
So Merrill is back in the lineup — in center field and in the clean-up spot — to start a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels.
First pitch is at 6:40 p.m. on Padres.TV.
A day earlier, Merrill’s status was touch and go as he checked in frequently while going round and round with … something … that would not allow him to keep his food down.
The Padres were not sure if it was something he ate or something viral.
A day later, Merrill still wasn’t sure.
“I don’t know,” he said, “but I feel better right now.”
Whatever it was, it’s been the only thing to slow Merrill since coming off the injured list on Tuesday in New York.
He is 11-for-19 with two doubles, a homer, six RBIs and three strikeouts in 20 plate appearances since returning from his hamstring strain.
Merrill has made most of his starts this year in the clean-up position regardless of the handedness of the pitcher.
But with a lefty on the mound on Monday in Yusei Kikuchi, the Padres have a few tweaks, though not as many as when they had more right-handed-hitting outfielders on the roster like Oscar Gonzalez.
Back at our place 🌴 pic.twitter.com/Pj2UxQZNGv
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) May 12, 2025
So Brandon Lockridge is in left field and in the nine-hole, Jake Cronenworth is in the eight-hole for the first time this season and Gavin Sheets is getting just his second start this year against a left-hander. He’ll be the DH and the six-hole hitter.
All five of Sheets’ home runs this year have come against righties (.919 OPS) as he’s hitting .188/.235/.250 in just 17 plate appearances this year against southpaws.
For his career, the left-handed-hitting Sheets is a .170/.218/.243 hitter against lefties (193 plate appearances) and a .246/.312/.416 hitter against righties (1,364 plate appearances).
Only two of his 51 homers have come against a lefty.
Sheets was 7-for-15 with three doubles, a homer and seven RBIs in three games at Coors Field — all against righty starters.
“In Gavin’s situation, we observed in spring training that he was a guy that demonstrated he could hit period, and hit lefties included, and has done that this year,” Shildt said. “He’s had good at bats against lefties and has earned the opportunity to get in there today and go compete.”
Here is how the Angels (16-23, 5th in AL West) will line up for Game 1:
📍San Diego
📺: @FanDuelSN_West
📻: @AngelsRadioKLAA | AM830 App & KWKW 1330 [Spanish]#RepTheHalo x @FBMSupply pic.twitter.com/zqIdvYacqc— Los Angeles Angels (@Angels) May 12, 2025
Darvish throws bullpen
Yu Darvish (elbow) threw a bullpen before batting practice, a precursor to potentially starting a rehab assignment on Wednesday with Triple-A El Paso in Las Vegas.
That plan is contingent on how Darvish feels after Monday’s session.
“The from everyone, including Yu, was very, very, very favorable the other day,” Shildt said. “So he’s trending in a really good direction. Throw a bullpen today and then we’ll evaluate the next steps.”
Monday’s pitching matchup
Angels LHP Yusei Kikuchi (0-4, 3.83 ERA)
The 33-year-old veteran has 39 strikeouts against 20 walks through 42 ⅓ innings to start his Angels career. The Angels are 2-6 in Kikuchi’s starts. He has a 5.79 ERA in three career starts against the Padres, but he has not faced them since 2020 (9 IP, 8 ER) while still with the Mariners.
Here is how Kikuchi has fared against current Padres:
Padres RHP Michael King (4-1, 2.22 ERA)
King has not allowed more than two earned runs in any of his last five starts (1.44 ERA). He also has a 1.32 ERA over five home starts. King has a 4.91 ERA in 7⅓ career innings against the Angels, but he has not started against them since 2021 (4⅓ IP, 2 ER) and has not faced them since 2023 (3 IP in relief, 2 ER).
Here is how King has fared against current Angels:
