Dylan Cease changes results; Kyle Higashioka plays a shorter long game; bullpen might need some help; the grind eases for a bit
Kyle Higashioka hits a grand slam against the Nationals during the eighth inning at Petco Park. Aside from the five runs the Nationals scored against Tom Cosgrove and Adrián Morejón in the ninth inning, the Padres played a fine game yesterday.
Padres pitcher Dylan Cease allowed one hit in seven scoreless innings against the Nationals on Wednesday.He threw it just four times. It remains something of a novelty. But it could be trending toward being something more. The changeup has hardly even been a show-me pitch in recent seasons. Cease throws it less than three percent of the time. He throws it slower than 70 mph most of the time.
“In years past, I’ve hit a lot of hard-hit balls to center,” he said. “Like 103, 104 , and they don’t get out. Now, it’s like I’m pulling the ball down the line and every time I’m hitting it in the air at 103, it’s out.” It is difficult to believe that even when Luis Campusano returns from the IL Higashioka won’t remain the Padres’ primary catcher — for as long as he stays hot.
Higashioka has caught 11 runners attempting to steal this season, tied for fifth in the majors. And his 253 innings behind the plate are 100 fewer than any catcher ahead of him. Higashioka’s 34.5 percent caught stealing rate is second best in the majors among catchers who have caught at least 200 innings.
This means the ongoing recovery of their four stars on the injured list — Xander Bogaerts, Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove and Fernando Tatis Jr. — can progress without them missing as many games.
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