Padres RHP Mitchell Saves Best for Last

When they traded for Bryan Mitchell in the off-season the Padres thought they were getting a stud starter.

But he had all kinds of control problems, was demoted to the bullpen, and had to be shut down for a few months with an injury. During his rehab he started using the 2-seam fastball more than the 4-seam heater.

If what we saw on Monday night is any indication Mitchell might have saved his spot on the San Diego roster.

The Padres beat the Giants 5-0 in San Francisco behind 8.2 shutout innings from Mitchell, the best start of his Major League career. He struck out seven and had just one walk entering the 9th inning before running out of gas. Manager Andy Green got him after a single and a pair of walks loaded the bases. Mitchell threw 118 pitches on the night.

Closer Kirby Yates threw four to get the save and preserve the shutout.

Jose Pirela, another guy the Padres expected big things from that never materialized, had three hits including his 4th home run of the season. Franmil Reyes and Wil Myers chipped in two hits each.

The win gives the Padres 63 on the year, ensuring they will not reach the 100-loss plateau in 2018. They expect big things to happen in their future and with all the young arms expected to compete for a spot in the starting rotation next year (Eric Lauer, Joey Lucchesi, Logan Allen, Cal Quantrill, perhaps Chris Paddack) Mitchell, who is only 27 years old, might have done enough in his final start to earn another look.