San Diego Padres Ha-Seong Kim after stealing second base during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Houston Astros, Friday, Sept. 8, 2023, in Houston. (AP Photo/Kevin M. Cox)

(Kevin M. Cox / Associated Press)

Padres pregame: Ha-Seong Kim still out, awaiting answers; Juan Soto named NL player of the week

Sports Newsletter

Jeff Sanders

Sept. 18, 2023

The Padres medical staff still does not have a handle on the abdominal issue sidelining Ha-Seong Kim. He will sit a second day in a row, giving way to Xander Bogaerts as the leadoff hitter as the Padres look to extend their winning streak to five games.

First pitch against the Colorado Rockies is at 6:40 p.m.

As of right now, its not a major thing from our medical staff, but Im still feeling similar to the last few days, Kim said through interpreter Leo Bae. Im still waiting for our medical staffs opinion, and well discuss it and go from there.

Kim was scratched from Sundays lineup. He was hoping tests would reveal if the discomfort stemmed from a muscular or internal issue.

He said Monday afternoon that he did not yet have an official diagnosis or a timetable.

"Unfortunately I'm feeling not really good at this point," Kim said.

Kim is hitting .265/.356/.407 with 17 homers and 36 steals on the season, although his OPS has plunged from .999 in July to .752 in August to .417 in the first 13 games this month.

Bogarts is leading off for the first time since June 3. He is a .289/.313/.422 hitter in 11 games in that spot, which was largely his role until Fernando Tatis Jr. returned from his suspension.

Tatis will hit second, followed by Juan Soto, who on Monday was named the NL player of the week.

Soto was 11-for-24 with four home runs 13 RBIs, a 1.000 slugging percentage and a .500 on-base percentage last week.

Manny Machado will again serve as the DH, Garrett Cooper is at first base and the right-handed-hitting Jos Azocar is in center field over Trent Grisham against Rockies left-hander Ty Blach.

Here is how the Rockies will line up for the opener of this three-game series:

Rockies LHP Ty Blach (3-1, 4.64 ERA)

Hes got a 4.09 ERA, 33 strikeouts and an .821 opponent OPS in 10 starts since moving into the rotation on July 23. Blach allowed two runs in three innings in relief against the Padres earlier this season.

Here is how Blach has fared against current Padres:

Padres RHP Michael Wacha (11-4, 3.43 ERA)

Hes allowed an 11.25 ERA over his last two starts, allowing a .378/.455/.703 batting line over that stretch. Wacha allowed four runs in six innings in a win in his only start against the Rockies, back on April 1.

Here is how hes fared against current Rockies: