San Diego Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr. and Michael Wacha Leading Team in Recent Hot Stretch

The San Diego Padres are now just one game under .500 for the season and have won seven of their last 10 games, in large part because of the play of Fernando Tatis Jr. and Michael Wacha.

Now this is more like it. This is the San Diego Padres team that we expected to see at the beginning of the season.

After spending money this offseason on Xander Bogaerts, and with the impending return of Fernando Tatis Jr., the Padres were thought to be World Series favorites heading into the season. 

The team massively underachieved for the first two months but is now playing well, having won two straight and seven of its last 10. The Friars also are now just one game under .500 at 33-34.

The team's resurgence has been fueled by Fernando Tatis Jr. at the plate and Michael Wacha on the mound, both who have been among the best in baseball for the last several weeks.

First, on Tatis Jr., per ESPN Stats & Info:

With his HR in the 1st inning against the Guardians tonight, the Padres' Fernando Tatís Jr. now has 14 HR this season. 

Since he made his season debut on April 20, only Shohei Ohtani (16) & Mookie Betts (15) have hit more HR than Tatís.

With his HR in the 1st inning against the Guardians tonight, the Padres' Fernando Tatís Jr. now has 14 HR this season.

Since he made his season debut on April 20, only only Shohei Ohtani (16) & Mookie Betts (15) have hit more HR than Tatís. pic.twitter.com/kjmR3vyugF

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 15, 2023

No shame in being behind Ohtani on any list these days, as he's making history left and right. Tatis went 3-4 on Wednesday in a 5-0 win over the Cleveland Guardians and is now hitting .283 on the season.

As for Wacha, he tossed 6.2 innings, allowing just four hits and no runs while walking one and striking out five.

He's now 7-2 on the season with a 2.89 ERA.

Also, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Michael Wacha threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings in the Padres' win over the Guardians Wednesday. 

Since May 2, Wacha has an ERA of 0.91 (5 ER allowed in 49 1/3 IP over 8 starts), the best ERA among qualified starters in MLB over that time frame.

Michael Wacha threw 6 2/3 scoreless innings in the Padres' win over the Guardians Wednesday.

Since May 2, Wacha has an ERA of 0.91 (5 ER allowed in 49 1/3 IP over 8 starts), the best ERA among qualified starters in MLB over that time frame. pic.twitter.com/zP8z0gXgFG

— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) June 15, 2023

San Diego will host the Guardians again on Thursday at 8:40 p.m. ET.

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