Hey look! We've won two in a row! Let's see if we can go for three.
As you may or may not remember (and I wish I could count myself amongst the latter), Randy Wolf did not have a very good start last time out. He allowed 6 ER in 5 IP, and also hit three batters. If not for his first start of the year, that last start would easily be the former Padre's worst of the year.
But let's look at the positives. As you may or may not know, Wolf (3-3, 3.38/4.17 ERA/FIP) has been pretty good this year. He's managed to go at least 6 innings is 5 of his 7 starts this season, and has only allowed more that 2 ER in 2 starts. His success so far this year can probably be at least partly contributed to Wolf limiting his walks. He's walking more than a batter less per 9 innings this season (2.3 BB/9, compared to 3.6 BB/9 last season). His success can also probably be contributed to his .266 BABIP.
In his career against the Padres Wold is 6-5 with a 5.18 ERA. Three Padres have faced Wolf at least 10 times. He's only given up 2 extra base hits to current Padres and two of them are home runs to Brad Hawpe.
| PA | slash line | |
| Ryan Ludwick | 22 | .250/.409/.250 |
| Brad Hawpe | 20 | .222/.300/.556 |
| Chase Headley | 12 | .091/.167/.182 |
Wolf and the Crew will be facing the righty Tim Stauffer (0-1, 2.16/2.47 ERA/FIP). Stauffer has mainly been a starter over his career, but pitched mostly out of the bullpen last season, with excellent results. In his last time out Stauffer threw 6.2 shutout innings against the D-Backs, allowing only 4 hits and 1 walk, while collecting 6 strikeouts. Stauffer has been pretty consistent for the Padres this year. He's pitched at least 6 innings in 5 of his 7 starts this season, and allowed more than 2 ER only once.
One of Stauffer's strengths is his control. He's pretty stingy with the walks, allowing only 2 per 9 innings. He's also allowed only 1 HR this season, although he does pitch half of his games at Petco Park, so take that for what you will. In his career, Stauffer's splits are also astonishingly even between lefties and righties. In his career against the Brewers (no starts) Stauffer is 0-0 with a 1.17 ERA. No Brewer has faced Stauffer more than 5 times.
Today's Lineup:
Weeks 2B
Kotsay CF
Braun LF
Fielder 1B
McGehee 3B
Hart RF
Betancourt SS
Nieves C
Wolf P
Padres lineup:
Denorfia RF
Bartlett SS
Cantu 1B
Headley 3B
Maybin CF
Ludwick LF
Johnson C
Gonzalez 2B
Stauffer P
In the bullpen...
Marco Estrada pitched 1.2 innings (25 pitches) yesterday.
Mitch Stetter pitched (4 pitches) yesterday.
Kameron Loe pitched .1 inning (7 pitches) yesterday and 1 inning Monday.
John Axford pitched 1 inning (26 pitches) yesterday and 1 inning Monday.
LaTroy Hawkins pitched 1 inning (12 pitches) Monday and 1 inning Sunday.
Sergio Mitre pitched 1 inning (8 pitches) Sunday.
Mike McClendon pitched 3 innings (36 pitches) Friday.
Brandon Kintzler has not pitched in a week.