Series Preview: Padres stumble into series with struggling Marlins

The San Diego Padres (50-53) started the second half of the season with question marks surrounding the roster and whether the club would look to buy or sell at the upcoming trade deadline.

>The Friars entered their longest road trip of the season looking to recapture the form that carried them through the first two months of the year. Instead, San Diego has stumbled to a 2-5 start despite opening the trip against a Kansas City club with the American League's second-worst record and an Atlanta team playing without star right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr., whom the Padres swept in June. The stretch has included four one-run losses and a crushing extra-inning defeat to the Royals in Friday's opener.

>The season is quickly unraveling from San Diego and it could force them to move the most electric reliever in Major League Baseball. Sitting three games under .500 and 4.0 games back of the Arizona Diamondbacks for the third Wild Card spot, Padres' president of baseball operations AJ Preller finds himself in a pinch.

>With five teams ahead of San Diego in the Wild Card chase and 15.0 games back of the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers, Preller could opt to trade one of the most valuable players in the sport. It would take a significant return to create any sort of blockbuster.

>According to MLB insider Robert Murray, San Diego would have to be "blown away" to trade the 27-year-old superstar. The flamethrowing right-hander is perfect this season on save opportunities (25/25) while owning an ERA below one and striking out 48.4% of batters this season.

>Speculation surrounding San Diego's willingness to trade one of its most valuable pieces will only intensify if the club continues to slide in the standings. If the Padres want to keep their elite closer and remain in the postseason race, the turnaround must begin Friday in Miami.

>The Miami Marlins (52-51) welcome the Brown and Gold to LoanDepot Park looking to snap a nine-game losing streak that dates back to before the All-Star break. Since Miami won six straight over the A's and Mariners from July 3-9 and improved to a season-best 10 games above .500, the Marlins have come crashing down — being swept in three consecutive series and falling out of a playoff spot.

>A driving force behind Miami's skid has been an ice-cold offense, which has averaged just 2.55 runs per game since July 10. Miami's recent dip in production at the plate comes as a surprise after the club ranked in the top ten of the league in several offensive categories in the first half of the season, including average (8th), on-base percentage (7th) and on-base plus slugging (10th).

>Shortstop Otto Lopez has excelled in his third season with Miami, leading the majors in batting average (.332) while posting a .886 OPS and 5.0 WAR in 99 games.

>Prior to the skid, Miami's starting pitching proved to be one of the strengths of the club. Right-handers Sandy Alcantara, Max Meyer and Eury Perez have all exceeded 100 strikeouts this season while combining for 24 total wins. Miami placed the 27-year-old Meyer on the 15-day injured list on Monday with a neck strain.

>San Diego's lineup, which ranked near the bottom of the league in most offensive categories during the first half, has shown signs of life since the All-Star break, averaging 6.71 runs per game, including a 19-run outburst in Sunday's win over Kansas City. Despite the offensive surge, the Padres are just 2-5 over that span.

>The Padres' next nine games may determine their season. Following series losses to Kansas City and Atlanta, San Diego enters the stretch with its trade deadline approach hanging in the balance. A winning streak could prompt Preller to add talent for another postseason push, while another disappointing run could turn the Padres into sellers ahead of the deadline, with Miller likely to draw massive interest from contenders.

id="isPasted">Pitching Probables

>Friday, July 24, 4:10 p.m.: RHP German Marquez (4-2, 5.24 ERA) vs. RHP Ryan Gusto (0-2, 4.70 ERA)

>Marquez makes his 10th start of the season as San Diego searches for its fourth straight win with the 31-year-old on the mound. Gusto takes the ball looking for his first win of the season in his seventh start.

>Saturday, July 25, 1:10 p.m.: LHP JP Sears (2-3, 4.38 ERA) vs. RHP Eury Perez (5-7, 3.53 ERA)

>After two bad starts to begin his first full season with San Diego, Sears has bounced back in July — boasting a 2.51 ERA in three starts this month. Miami sends Pérez to the mound for his 18th start of the season after one of his best outings of the year, firing six scoreless innings while allowing just one hit in Sunday's loss to Cincinnati.

>Sunday, July 26, 10:40 a.m.: RHP Walker Buehler (6-5, 5.23 ERA) vs. RHP Janson Junk (4-6, 5.09 ERA)

>Buehler's first season with the Padres has been defined by inconsistency. The right-hander followed a dominant June, when he posted a 1.71 ERA in five starts, with a difficult July that has seen his ERA balloon to 11.88 across 16.2 innings. As for Miami, Junk has allowed a home run in six of his last seven starts. The 30-year-old has failed to post a quality start since April 28.