Fernando Tatis Jr. returns vs Tigers, Expert Analysis & Picks

The San Diego Padres got back superstar Fernando Tatis Jr. from a long injured list stint on Monday and also are expected to welcome back ace Yu Darvish from a long absence as well on Wednesday when the Friars are solid home favorites on the MLB odds vs. Detroit.

Detroit at San Diego: 2024 MLB Expert Analysis

Opening MLB Lines Subject to Change: Padres -212, Tigers +156 (total 7.5)
Expert Prediction: Padres 5, Tigers 3

Detroit Tigers +156

The Tigers have been playing really well since Aug. 11 and still have an outside shot at the AL’s final wild-card spot, but that’s not likely. Still, finishing over .500 is a goal and might be enough for Manager AJ Hinch to keep his job. Detroit started a six-game West Coast trip with a 3-0 loss in San Diego on Monday and then the teams were off Tuesday, which is unusual. The Tigers are still 15-6 since Aug. 11, tied with the Dodgers for the best record in the majors in that time.

Wenceel Perez

Outfielder had been a huge bright spot as a rookie but has been on the injured list since Aug. 10 with a strained left oblique. He got through live batting practice over the weekend without issue to gain clearance to play in rehab games and started his assignment on Monday. He might be back in the Show by the weekend. Perez was called up April 8 originally and became an everyday player for the Tigers. In 97 games, he has slashed .242/.298/.386 for a .684 OPS to go with nine home runs, 13 doubles, five triples and 32 RBI.

The Calls

With rosters expanding Sunday, the Tigers called up outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy and reliever Ricky Vanasco recalled from Triple-A Toledo, alloy’s return had been somewhat expected after he fell victim to a roster crunch a couple of weeks ago with Riley Greene’s return from the injured list. Malloy hit .217/.304/.394 with eight home runs, 20 RBIs and a 95 OPS+ in 57 games for Detroit, but he spent his brief Triple-A stint working in both outfield corners to enhance his positional versatility for late-game maneuvers. Mallo was 0-for-1 as a pinch-hitter on Monday for Detroit.

Ricky Vanasco

Vanasco’s last MLB appearance came at Comerica Park on July 13 against the Tigers, who churned out three consecutive hits against the then-Dodgers reliever. Los Angeles designated the 25-year-old reliever for assignment 11 days later, and the Tigers acquired him for cash. He spent the last month in Toledo working on pitches, including tweaking the grip for a curveball that drew a 42.9 percent whiff rate during his Triple-A stint. Vanasco didn’t get into Monday’s game.

Keider Montero

It’s the rookie right-hander (4-6) on the mound Wednesday. Montero (4-6) took the loss last Thursday against the Angels, giving up three runs on five hits and three walks over five innings. He struck out five. Montero struggled with his control, as he walked three and threw 31-of-89 for balls.

He blanked the Angels for the first three innings, but gave up a run in the fourth and a two-run shot in the fifth. Montero entered with a 3-0 record and 3.00 ERA over his last four starts. He still has gone 11 straight starts pitching five or more innings. The right-hander has a 5.17 ERA over 69.2 innings in his first full season. Given his elevated 5.18 FIP and a BABIP of .294, there’s little to suggest a significant turnaround is imminent. This will be Montero’s first career outing vs. San Diego.

Detroit is 19-22 against National League teams so far this season, including a 5-6 mark against the NL West. The Tigers have finished with a winning record in interleague play in three of the last four seasons.

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San Diego Padres -212

The Padres still have a shot to catch the Dodgers for the NL West title, so the Padres should end up as either the first or second wild-card team in the National League. They got superstar outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr. back from a long IL stint on Monday in the 3-0 win over Detroit. He grounded out twice — although he advanced two runners in the two-run eighth — fouled out and struck out. Monday starting pitcher Joe Musgrove said it was “awesome” having Tatis back. He has been sidelined since late June with a stress reaction in his right femur. The Padres went 38-21 in his absence. Tatis opted to forgo a Minor League rehab stint to rejoin a Padres team in the stretch run toward the postseason.

The Petco Park crowd welcomes Fernando Tatis Jr. back after being activated off the injured list today 🫶 pic.twitter.com/B1NSgC3XLM
— MLB (@MLB) September 2, 2024

Tatis’ injury is not 100% healed, but he has been cleared by doctors to play and can do everything without restriction. He said the lack of full health is felt in his recovery after games, but he expects to play every day.

Luis Arraez

Arraez clearly liked having Tatis Jr. hitting behind him on Monday for the first time in months, as Arraez went 2-for-4 with two RBI, a run scored and a stolen base in the win. Arraez had a hand in each of the Padres’ three runs and swiped second base in the third inning. Over his past 10 games, the 27-year-old has tallied five multi-hit efforts with a homer, seven RBI and two stolen bases. On the year, he is hitting .310 with four home runs, 41 RBI, 71 runs scored and a career-high eight steals.

Robert Suarez

Suarez earned the save Monday, allowing one hit in a scoreless ninth inning. Suarez was called upon for the second straight day and ended the game on just eight pitches. The closer has allowed runs in four of his past 10 outings but has still managed to convert all six of his save chances during that stretch. On the year, he owns a 1.96 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and 51:11 K:BB across 55 innings while ranking fourth in the majors with 31 saves.

Yu Darvish

Ace Darvish will come off the injured list and start for San Diego on Wednesday against the Tigers, his first outing since May 29. Darvish went on the injured list with a left groin strain on May 30 and was placed on the restricted list in early July while tending to a personal family matter. The move saved the Padres approximately $4 million.

The 38-year-old Darvish went 4-3 with a 3.20 ERA in 11 starts for the Padres before going down. Last week, it was reported that Darvish set up a live BP session at a high school, trying to keep himself somewhat ready even while he was away from the club and perhaps demonstrating that he had put his injuries behind him. Darvish is 7-0 with a 3.35 ERA in eight career appearances vs. Detroit but hasn’t faced the Tigers since 2022.

Tigers at Padres Info

When: Wednesday, 9:40 PM ET
Where: Petco Park
Pitchers (away/home): Keider Montero/Yu Darvish
TV: MLB Extra Innings
Stream/game day audio: https://www.mlb.com/live-stream-games/ ^

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