San Diego Padres

Another uneven performance from San Diego Padres starting pitcher Matt Waldron highlighted the team’s 5-2 loss against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday night. The right-hander’s inconsistent season continued as he battled control issues and an inability to limit hard contact over six innings of work. Waldron struggled from the outset, allowing six hits and four earned runs while striking out four batters. His mistakes were costly, as the Reds capitalized on opportunities and built an early lead that the Padres’ offense could not overcome.

In the world of professional baseball, few rookies have burst onto the scene with as much fanfare and immediate impact as Jackson Merrill of the San Diego Padres. The 20-year-old outfielder, who skipped Triple-A and made the leap straight to the big leagues, has been nothing short of a revelation for the Padres, seamlessly transitioning to the leadoff spot in the batting order. Merrill’s move to the top of the lineup against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday was merely the latest chapter in his meteoric rise.