Padres notes: Paddack is Paddack again; Lamet on deck; Weathers in swing role

Chris Paddack got a break, had some talks with his brother and arrived at Oracle Park believing in his fastball again.

In his first start in 12 days, Paddack went to the pitch slightly more and threw it consistently a little harder than he had all season.

“Just that mentality of going back to ‘Nobody can hit my fastball’ instead of having that little doubt when you let up a couple hits with your fastball or change-up, whatever pitch it might be,” Paddack said after pitching three scoreless innings at the start of the Padres’ 11-1 victory over the Giants on Sunday. “I feel like I’m guilty of, I try and be too perfect, I try and do too much in those situations instead of just trust in my ability, trust in my instincts and my confidence is through the roof and I have success. That’s exactly what we did today.”

The confidence in his fastball showed, in particular, when he found himself about to face Buster Posey, arguably the hottest hitter in the majors over the past two weeks, with runners at the corners with one out in the third inning.

After falling behind 2-1, Paddack threw seven straight fastballs — striking out Posey on a 96 mph fastball and then striking out clean-up hitter Brandon Belt on four fastballs, all at 97 mph.

“What was going through my head was, I told myself I’ve already been in the worst situation possible in this game — letting up a four-spot, five runs, two-out walks, two-out hits, back-to back hits, you name it, I’ve experienced it,” Paddack said. “So I told myself to not give in, and I’m going to beat these guys with my best pitch, fastball at the top of the zone, and just kind of have that edge — that, ‘Here it is, hit me,’ type of mentality.”

Paddack, who had a 5.40 ERA in his first five starts, was on the injured list for an undisclosed reason. He and the team have declined to say why. Except in the case of COVID, teams virtually always specify why a player is on the IL, and multiple sources said Paddack tested positive for the virus twice despite the fact he has been vaccinated and had to isolate during his time away.

He said the break might have been a blessing, as he (along with other pitchers) was likely going to be given a break at some point in the season as the Padres try to give their pitchers their best chance of getting through 162 games after the shortened 2020 season.

“That was another thing I looked at — at the positive side, that it’s better this happened now than closer to October when we’re making a little playoff run,” Paddack said. “So that’s what I looked at, have this time to have a little break, a little breather (for) my arm.”

As implausible as it seems that Paddack did not throw during his time away from the team — and two league sources said that was practically inconceivable — that is what manager Jayce Tingler said Friday. After Sunday’s game, Tingler said he couldn’t share what it was Paddack did to stay ready during his time away from the team.

“I think he was just at home,” the manager said, referring questions about specifics to Paddack.

Paddack, who took a flight from San Diego on Saturday night, said he did air squats, push-ups, sit-ups and rode his stationary bike in his apartment. He also used his Towel Trainer, which is essentially a baseball attached to a sock that pitchers often use to essentially pantomime throwing.

He also had multiple FaceTime sessions with his older brother, Michael, who is essentially his life coach.

The gist of what they talked about, Paddack said, was “basically finding whatever it is that works for me and get back to that Chris Paddack. Stop worrying about being the sheriff, stop worrying about being someone I’m not and be Chris Paddack.”

Pitching plans

Dinelson Lamet is scheduled to start Monday’s series opener in Colorado, though rain and snow are forecast in Denver throughout the day and evening.

Whenever Lamet does get back on the mound, it likely won’t be for much longer than the two innings and 30 pitches he threw May 4. That will be especially true given the cold weather expected at Coors Field.

Lamet, who did not pitch in the postseason last October due to elbow discomfort, was built up slowly in spring training and made his season debut April 21. He left that start after two innings with forearm tightness and did not pitch again until May 4, when he shut out the Pirates for two innings.

With Ryan Weathers, who five days earlier had allowed one run in three innings after replacing starter Lamet in the third inning, again riding piggyback with three scoreless innings following Paddack Sunday, the Padres bullpen is fairly rested. Among those available to support Lamet are Miguel Díaz, who has not pitched since his three scoreless innings on May 5.

Weathers, it seems, will be filling the long relief role for a time.

“He’s going to start some,” Tingler said. “I don’t know what’s going to happen. I know he’s capable of coming out of the pen. He’s capable of starting. We’re going to need the depth.”

On Sunday, the rookie left-hander retired the first seven batters he faced and then stranded runners at first and second with a strikeout of Brandon Crawford to end the sixth inning. He has allowed one run in six innings of relief since he departed his April 28 start with inflammation in the upper portion of his left forearm and has an 0.81 ERA in 22 1/3 innings this season.

Tingler would not commit to who will start Tuesday and Wednesday. However, Yu Darvish threw his between-starts bullpen Sunday morning, indicating he is on track to start Tuesday. Blake Snell, who played catch Sunday, would presumably follow him.

Thanks again

The Padres optioned reliever Nabil Crismatt to Triple-A to make room for Paddack on the active roster.

Outfielder Jorge Oña, who had arthroscopic surgery to remove bone spurs from his right elbow, was transferred to the 60-day IL to make room on the 40-man roster.

It was the third time Crismatt was optioned the day after pitching. He has appeared in five games.