BOSTON — After a week’s worth of games, the Padres have just two victories.

No other team has fewer. The Red Sox, Rockies, White Sox, Athletics and Tampa Bay Rays also begin Saturday with a 2-5 record.

Whatever stock you put in expected numbers — and it’s not nothing as noted in Kevin Acee’s game story from Friday’s loss — it’s the actual numbers weighing down the Padres heading into a 1:10 p.m. first pitch at Fenway Park.

The Padres rank 29th in batting average (.192) and last in on-base percentage (.264), slugging (.290) and OPS (.554).

It’s added up to sitting three games under .500 for the first time since June 18, 2024, when they were 37-40 after a loss in Philadelphia.

“It’s rough,” Fernando Tatis Jr. said. “Rough, because everybody wants to see results.”

Perhaps more lineup tweaking will trigger something.

Facing the first of two left-handers in a row, the Padres are giving Jackson Merrill the start off and loading the lineup with right-handed hitters against Red Sox rookie Connelly Early. Ramón Laureano will bat second and man left field, designated hitter Miguel Adujar will bat third, Ty France will play first base and bat seventh and switch-hitter Bryce Johnson will take over for Merrill in center and bat ninth.

Saturday afternoon baseball. pic.twitter.com/woDdtXIjBM

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) April 4, 2026

“I think anytime that you find that have a good chance to get a lot of right handers in there against a tough lefty, you take that opportunity,” Padres manager Craig Stammen said. “I know Ty’s in there today. He hasn’t really had many opportunities to play or get at bats. So you want to keep your guys feeling like they’re part of the team, because they are a big part of the team, and find opportunities for them to get playing time, especially early in the season.

“You know, we’re trying to figure out how to use the roster the right way, and who can play when and all that kind of stuff.”

The second and third spots in the order, respectively, are the highest so far this year for Laureano and Andjuar. Stammen mentioned France’s defense as last year’s Gold Glove winner in the AL when asked about the decision to start him over veteran Nick Castellanos. France is 0-for-3 so far in this stint as a Padre, while Castellanos is 2-for-12 with a double.

As for Merrill, Stammen noted it was a day off for the 22-year-old, whose .185/.241/.333 batting line through seven games pales in comparison to last year’s first seven games (.417/.444/.708).

His chase rate so far (41.7%) is a tick or two above last year’s numbers (37.8%).

“He’s an aggressive hitter to begin with and I feel like he’s trying to create action,” Stammen said of Merrill’s early at-bats. “He’s someone that can create energy and enthusiasm and action for the team. His at-bats have been fine, but he just may be — I don’t know for sure, not inside of his head — but he may be trying to be a little too aggressive at times and going outside the zone. But today will be a good day to take a little step back and then get back in there tomorrow and prove to the rest of the world who he is.”

Here is how the Red Sox, who are tied with the Padres with just two wins, will line up for Game 2:

Saturday afternoon at Fenway. pic.twitter.com/IJbPcaQ0r5

— Red Sox (@RedSox) April 4, 2026

 

 

Saturday’s pitching matchup

Padres RHP Randy Vásquez (1-0, 0.00 ERA)

The only starter to turn in a quality start in the first turn through the rotation, Vásquez beat the Tigers with eight strikeouts over six shutout innings. He scattered two hits and three walks. Vásquez has two career starts against the Red Sox, allowing two runs in 3⅔ innings in 2023 and one run in four innings in 2024.

Here is how he’s fared against current Red Sox hitters:

Red Sox LHP Connelly Early (0-0, 1.69 ERA)

The 24-year-old rookie struck out 29 in 19⅓ innings (2.33 ERA) during last year’s debut and struck out six over 5⅓ innings of one-run ball in his first start this season. He’s been especially tough on lefties (.414 OPS) in his career. The highlight of a six-pitch mix is a four-seamer sitting 94.4 mph to start the year. Hitters are 4-for-25 (.160 avg) off that pitch so far in his career.

Early does not have any history with any current Padres.