SAN DIEGO — It took three pitches, ranging in velocity from 99.4 mph to 100.2 mph, for Robert Suarez to reach two strikes Friday at Petco Park against the potential final batter, a little-known infielder for one of the worst teams in major-league history.
From there, the Padres closer threw six more pitches — all four-seamers and sinkers — to Chicago White Sox second baseman Lenyn Sosa. The last, a 100.4 mph four-seamer, leaked over the heart of the plate. Sosa crushed it.
The tying, two-run homer dealt Suarez his third blown save this month. Ahead of the most meaningful month of the year, it also accentuated a developing crack in San Diego’s roster.
LENYN SOSA! pic.twitter.com/onmh2DXuKx
— Chicago White Sox (@whitesox) September 21, 2024
That might not have been the lasting image of Friday’s game. In the bottom of the 10th, Fernando Tatis Jr. doubled to deliver his second career walk-off hit and a 3-2 win. The Padres’ magic number to clinch a postseason berth is three. FanGraphs has bumped their odds of making the playoffs to 100 percent.
“At the end of the day,” Suarez said through interpreter Danny Sanchez, “we won the game, so that’s all that matters.”
That’s true. But this matters, too: Suarez has surrendered at least one run in eight of his last 18 appearances. In that span, his ERA has risen from 1.42 to 2.76. The Padres, with multiple other standout relievers capable of closing games, are obligated to discuss their options, especially this close to October.
“It’ll be a consideration,” manager Mike Shildt said. “We’ve got three good guys at the back (of the bullpen), and we’ll continue to take a look at it.”
The Padres could look to deploy Tanner Scott (1.57 ERA) and Jason Adam (1.90 ERA) at least slightly more often in the ninth. For now, they seem more inclined to continue examining Suarez’s pitch usage. The All-Star right-hander has thrived for most of this season while leaning heavily — and at times exclusively — on his fastball. Suarez entered Friday throwing a four-seamer or a sinker 88 percent of the time.
Then he again relied on his fastball while facing the worst statistical offense in the majors. The White Sox swung and missed at only one of his 27 pitches.
“I think he’s got to be able to mix in something else occasionally to righties,” Shildt said. “He’s got the changeup. The ability to throw another pitch is going to be important for him. The fastball velocity’s plus; he made a lot of good pitches. He’s one strike twice from being able to bring it home, but wasn’t able to. But my concern with Robert’s not very high.”
Nor, it seems, is that of Padres pitching coach Ruben Niebla.
“What he’s doing right now is throwing a lot more two-seamers and changeups,” Niebla said. “I think he needs to do a better job sometimes executing those pitches on the inner rail (of the strike zone). But overall, we’re not going to go and start doing something different than what he’s been so successful doing pretty much all year.”
Suarez indeed has thrown more two-seamers and changeups in recent weeks. Friday, he threw eight two-seamers and two changeups.
He has thrown just three sliders/cutters this season, the latest coming Sept. 10 in Seattle. Some around the team believe his improved health in 2024 — Suarez, because of elbow inflammation, did not debut last season until late July — is due in part to the shelving of his breaking ball.
But he has not completely scrapped it.
“I’ve been working on it,” Suarez said. “I maybe haven’t used it in games as much. Maybe the situation hasn’t called for it. But I’ve been working on my fastball, my changeup and the slider as well.”
Do the Padres think the last pitch should be featured more often?
“It can be. But those three weapons are pretty good,” Niebla said, referring to the four-seamer, sinker and changeup.
“We like the two-seamer … against righties. It has very minimal damage.”
Late Friday, Suarez pointed out his need for better location inside the strike zone. He noted that he had been able to maintain his fastball velocity; against the White Sox, he maxed out at 101.5 mph, and the averages on his four-seamer and sinker were up from throughout the year.
He also emphasized the outcome: The Padres, for the 88th time in 2024, won a game. They are bound for the postseason.
Comenzando la serie con una victoria 🔥 pic.twitter.com/cbv2hSvNBA
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 21, 2024
But, there, every advantage — and disadvantage — will be magnified. A Padres pitcher has surrendered a home run on a pitch of at least 100 mph just four times since 2008. The first instance came in 2012, when Andrew Cashner flung a 101.2 mph fastball over the heart of the plate.
The other three examples all occurred this month. All involved a single reliever. The discussions about Suarez’s pitch usage and role remain ongoing.
(Photo of Fernando Tatis Jr. after his walk-off hit: Denis Poroy / Getty Images)
