The San Diego Padres and the Arizona Diamondbacks continue their 3-game weekend series in the desert on Saturday night in Arizona. The Padres are expected to contend for a playoff spot in 2023 while the Diamondbacks continue an upward climb since a dismal 2021 season. The pitching matchup on Saturday night will feature a returning Joe Musgrove (0-0, 0.00) for the Padres taking on Merrill Kelly (1-2, 2.53) of the Diamondbacks. The first pitch is scheduled for 8:10 PM EST.
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The San Diego Padres head into Arizona with a roster that is finally taking shape after playing without some key assets to start the year. Fernando Tatis Jr. returned to the lineup on Thursday for the first time since the 2021 season after recovering from injury and an 80-game suspension for use of illegal substances. Also returning will be tonight's starting pitcher Joe Musgrove. The Padres won the opener on Thursday night 7-5 in Tatis' return to the lineup. On Friday night, the Padres were held to just two hits in a 9-0 loss to the Diamondbacks to knot the four-game series at one game apiece. A 2-0 game was blown wide open in the 8th inning when the Padres bullpen coughed up seven runs on six hits.
Alexa, play “dejà vu” #BringTheGold pic.twitter.com/n4IIsSsiiY
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 21, 2023
The Padres welcome back right-hander Joe Musgrove to the rotation from the IL for toe and shoulder issues. Last season, Musgrove went 10-7 with an ERA of 2.93 to help lead the Padres to the NLCS. Musgrove was 1-0 in three starts against the Diamondbacks last season with an ERA of 3.23. He allowed 18 hits in 16.1 innings pitched while striking out 19 batters. On the road in 2022, Musgrove was 7-3 with a 3.01 ERA in 14 starts. He allowed 75 hits in 86.2 innings and had a K/9 rate of 9.62.
Key Injuries: Outfielders Adam Engle and David Dahl are out.