How to watch Padres at Brewers series this weekend, as San Diego scraps for NL West lead
Two playoff hopefuls get into a three-game tangle Friday through Sunday, with the second-place San Diego Padres visiting the surging Milwaukee Brewers. Here's to a weekend of waddling Bratwursts and bright yellow slides.
Milwaukee hits this weekend with the ninth-most runs per game, but it is 21st in batting average and 23rd in homers. But the Brew Crew is putting numbers on the board with elite base running and a solid walk rate. Speedy second baseman Brice Turang leads the lineup in WAR, and he's one of four Brewers with double-digit steals through the first third of 2025. The other three: Jackson Chourio, a prodigious five-tool Venezuelan, former MVP Christian Yelich and Gold Glove ascendant Sal Frelick.
Advertisement
Pat Murphy's team was 25-28 after a May 24 loss to Pittsburgh. Since then, Milwaukee enjoyed consecutive series sweeps, with back-to-back walkoffs versus Boston and a high-scoring statement-maker in Philadelphia. It took two of three against Cincinnati earlier this week. The Chicago Cubs still have a comfortable hold on the NL Central, but the Brewers are playing like a playoff team right now.
San Diego is down to a simmer after its feverish start to the season, finishing May at 13-13 with a minus-14 run differential. The Pads beat rival San Francisco on Monday and Tuesday, but lost 6-5 on Wednesday and then 3-2 Thursday night. Still, they find themselves just two games back of the defending champion Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.
The Padres' stars are doing their respective things thus far. Fernando Tatís Jr. is on pace for another 30-HR, 30-SB campaign. Manny Machado is No. 10 in MLB batting average. And 22-year-old Jackson Merrill looks like the future of the franchise. He was ninth in NL MVP voting last year (as a rookie), and he's increased every part of his slash line (plus OPS) in 2025.
Mike Shildt's squad is below league average in scoring and power numbers, but San Diego is winning on the hill with the eighth-best collective ERA. The Padres lead baseball with 10 shutouts in 61 games.
Friday night starts with two right-handers, Randy Vásquez (3–4, 3.99 ERA) and Chad Patrick (3–4, 2.97 ERA). Saturday's national TV broadcast showcases RHP Stephen Kolek, who is 3-1 in his first six Padres starts, and Milwaukee LHP José Quintana, the 14-season veteran with a clean 4-1 record and a sub-3 ERA. San Diego will deploy righty Ryan Bergert to open Sunday's finale. He did four one-run bids to start the season, then put in a career-high five innings of work against the Giants on Tuesday. Bergert will be matched by fellow righty Aaron Civale, an attempted reclamation project for the Brewers. He's a paltry 15th percentile in fastball velocity and has been leaning on his cutter and sinker.
Most home runs in both jerseys:
Betting/odds, ticketing and streaming links in this article are provided by partners of The Athletic. Restrictions may apply. The Athletic maintains full editorial independence. Partners have no control over or input into the reporting or editing process and do not review stories before publication.
(Photo of Fernando Tatís Jr: Orlando Ramirez / Getty Images)
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Times
10 minutes ago
- New York Times
Yankees pummel Walker Buehler as Red Sox's first-inning woes continue
NEW YORK — The last time Walker Buehler was on the mound at Yankee Stadium prior to Friday night, he watched as Alex Verdugo swung through a knuckle curveball. That swing-and-miss clinched the World Series for Buehler's Los Angeles Dodgers. He threw his arms wide in elation. It couldn't have been a more different scene nearly eight months later, his first time back on that mound. Advertisement Buehler, now a Boston Red Sox starter, stared blankly as he walked off the field in the second inning. Sixty-seven pitches thrown, seven runs allowed. Another atrocious start for the Red Sox in an unrelenting season. The Red Sox fell 9-6 to New York Yankees on Friday night, the score making the game appear closer than it felt as New York bounded out to a 7-0 lead. It was a different day but the same story for the Red Sox as they've played the same brand of brutal baseball on repeat for the better part of the season. 'It's hard to play this way,' manager Alex Cora said. The Bronx Bombers came out swingin' 💪 — MLB (@MLB) June 6, 2025 The irony of Buehler's bad day was that he returned to his World Series-clinching pitch in the first inning in a tight spot. With two on and two outs after a leadoff walk and an Aaron Judge double, Buehler tried to execute a below-the-zone knuckle curve. This time, with Jazz Chisholm at the plate, the Yankees third baseman pummeled the pitch 417 feet to straightaway center for a 3-0 lead. A single and an Anthony Volpe two-run homer later, and the Red Sox were down 5-0. 'To be honest with you, this organization put a lot of faith in me this offseason, and I've been f—ing embarrassing for us, so it's tough,' Buehler said. 'It's obviously a big game and a big rivalry that I was excited to be a part of, and for it to go the way that it did is super disappointing.' The five-run first ballooned Boston's first-inning ERA to 7.06, second only to the league-worst Colorado Rockies (9.00). 'We prepare, we have to execute,' Cora said. 'At the end, it's execution. It's not the scouting reports or they're showing up late to their bullpen session or to warmup. It's just that we aren't executing, and that's it.' Buehler's second inning wasn't much better. With two on, Chisholm drove in another run with a single to right. Jasson Dominguez walked to load the bases, and Buehler hit Volpe to bring in a seventh run. Trevor Story made a tumbling catch on an infield popup to get out of the inning, but Buehler's exit from the Yankee Stadium mound was a far cry from the jubilation of his last time in New York. Advertisement Coming off a dramatic walk-off win Wednesday in Boston, the Red Sox were riding high, hoping to carry that momentum into a tough stretch of their schedule. Cora said the team's off day Thursday was coming at a good time. But by Friday, it was more of the same malaise. The early seven-run hole made for another nearly impossible task for the Red Sox offense to surmount, though it tried. Marcelo Mayer gave the Red Sox a spark in the fifth inning with his first career home run to put Boston on the board. 'It was a good feeling,' Mayer said. 'Obviously, it kind of sucks when you're losing, but it's definitely a moment I'll remember for the rest of my life.' Mayer traded a signed bat and ball with two young Yankees fans who caught the ball. Marcelo's first career homer! 💥 — Red Sox (@RedSox) June 7, 2025 The following inning, after the Red Sox bullpen had given up another run, Jarren Duran led off with a triple, Rafael Devers walked and Wilyer Abreu hit a sacrifice fly. Yankees starter Will Warren issued back-to-back walks to load the bases and was replaced by Brent Headrick. Cora pinch hit for Mayer with Romy Gonzalez, who smacked a two-run double to pull the Red Sox within 8-4. 'We needed to pinch hit there,' Cora said of his decision to take Mayer out. 'That's a balance between developing the player and winning the game. It felt right there to pinch hit for him. I told him, I don't know if it's going to be this season, but at one point in his career we're not going to pinch hit for him. I made sure to let him know that because he's very important in what we're trying to accomplish. He's part of the future and he's a good player.' The Red Sox bullpen leaked in another run in the sixth before Devers' two-run homer made it 9-6. That's as close as the Red Sox would get. For the way the Red Sox's season has gone, it was a fitting way to begin a three-game series in the Bronx.
Forbes
21 minutes ago
- Forbes
Fisk To Discontinue Nation's First HBCU Gymnastics Program In 2026
LAS VEGAS, NV - JANUARY 06: Fisk University gymnasts cheer on their teammate during a meet at the ... More Orleans Arena on January 6, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by) In 2023, Fisk University made history as the first Historically Black College or University (HBCU) to sponsor women's gymnastics. However, the university announced Friday that the historic program will be discontinued. In an email delivered to the student body, university officials shared their decision to discontinue the gymnastics program at the close of the 2025-2026 gymnastics season. The university cited scheduling issues and recruitment disadvantages as factors influencing the decision. Though Fisk and Wilberforce University presently sponsor women's gymnastics, the sport is not sanctioned within the HBCU Athletic Conference (HBCUAC). The decision to cut Fisk's program also comes after significant personnel changes. In May, star gymnast Morgan Price announced her intent to transfer from Fisk for her final season of eligibility, instead signing with the Arkansas Razorbacks of the powerhouse Southeastern Athletic Conference. Price led Fisk gymnastics since its founding, claiming back-to-back national championships and delivering the first perfect ten in HBCU gymnastics history. Price's departure was one of two to shake the historic HBCU team in 2025. One month into the team's season, Head Coach Corrinnne Tarver resigned. Tarver had been at the helm since the program's founding in 2022. Despite the notable departures, Friday's news shocked many athletes, alumni, and fans. The 2025 season was a historic one for the Bulldogs. In addition to Price's five national titles, the team set a program record and notched seven All-America honors. CORVALLIS, OREGON - MARCH 21: Morgan Price of the Fisk Bulldogs competes on the floor exercise ... More during a gymnastics meet against the Oregon State Beavers at Gill Coliseum on March 21, 2025 in Corvallis, Oregon. (Photo by) In response to the news, recent Fisk graduate Naimah Muhammad took to Instagram to express disappointment for her teammates and program. Muhammad particularly disagreed with the university's reasoning. While the gymnast felt that she could accept financial rationale, the claim surrounding sanctioning struck a nerve—and rightly so. 'The reason gymnastics is not an HBCU-sanctioned sport…is (because) there's never been HBCU gymnastics before Fisk,' Muhammad said. 'HBCU Gymnastics started because of Fisk," she added. When Fisk jumped at the opportunity to make history in 2022, many hoped that multiple HBCU programs would follow suit. Unfortunately, the period following the historic announcement has been tumultuous. In 2024, Talladega College joined Fisk as the second HBCU to sponsor a women's gymnastics team. However, months later, the program was cut due to budget issues. Wilberforce University joined Fisk this past NCAA season as one of two active programs. Sadly, at the close of the 2026 season, Wilberforce may be the only program standing. Fans hope Wilberorce's program outlasts its predecessors, and the university encourages them to support the Fisk athletes in their final season. Despite the recent news, Muhammad attests that the fervor for HBCU gymnastics remains strong. 'Y'all don't know how many [direct messages] I get every single day – from parents, alumni, and gymnasts,' she said. They all ask – "How do I get my daughter to go to Fisk Gymnastics?'
Associated Press
28 minutes ago
- Associated Press
Weber's goal seals 3-2 comeback win for Racing Louisville over Utah Royals
Rookie Sarah Weber scored the winning goal in the 85th minute and Racing Louisville came from behind to beat the 10-player Utah Royals 3-2 in the National Women's Soccer League on Friday night. In the only other game, the Seattle Reign beat the San Diego Wave 2-1. Lousiville (5-4-2) has won four of its last five games. The Royals (1-8-2) have no wins in their last seven. Utah took an early lead on the road at Lynn Family Stadium when Brecken Mozingo scored for a third consecutive game in the third minute. Louisville's Emma Sears equalized with a swerving shot from outside of the box in the ninth minute. Ellie Jean then put Louisville up 2-1 when she headed home a short-corner routine from the center of the box in the 26th. Bianca St-Georges brought the Royals level at 2-2 in the 31st minute when she latched on to a long pass over the top of the defense and curled the ball past goalkeeper Jordyn Bloomer. The Royals were reduced to 10 players in the 73rd minute when defender Ana Tejada received her second yellow card for a clumsy sliding challenge on Taylor Flint. Louisville made the player advantage count when Weber scored her first NWSL goal with a looping header from Courtney Peterson's cross on the left wing. Adames scores late winner as Reign defeats Wave 2-1 Emeri Adames scored in the 87th minute to give the Seattle Reign a 2-1 win over the San Diego Wave. It was Laura Harvey's 250th regular-season game as the head coach of the Reign, an NWSL record. She is the only coach to ever surpass 200 games. The loss snapped a six-game undefeated streak for San Diego (6-3-2). The Reign (5-4-2) took a 1-0 lead via a long-range strike by rookie Sally Menti in the 67th minute. It was Menti's first goal in the NWSL coming on her first career start. San Diego did not trail for long. Maria Sanchez whipped in a corner kick on her left-foot and Delphine Cascarino nodded her third goal of the season in at the front post in the 75th minute. With the clock ticking down, Adames broke free on a counterattack, weaved in and out of pressure from Kennedy Wesley and then hit a left-foot shot from 17 yards out that whizzed past goalie Kailen Sheridan. ___ AP soccer:
