Padres' Xander Bogaerts to return for opener vs. Brewers

Just in time for the regular season's final week, the San Diego Padres appear to be getting an important piece of their puzzle back in the lineup.

When the Padres start a three-game home series Monday night against the Milwaukee Brewers, the Padres expect to have veteran Xander Bogaerts return at shortstop.

Bogaerts has been idle since Aug. 27 when he fractured his left foot after fouling off a pitch in Seattle. But manager Mike Shildt said Bogaerts looks ready to return after playing in a pair of minor league games at the team's complex in Peoria, Ariz.

"He's a guy that we do rely on," Shildt said of Bogaerts. "He's a guy that's been out for a while. But you're talking about a guy who's been a mainstay in our lineup for the last couple of years. He has two world championships under his belt ... that kind of player is going to be good to get back."

Bogaerts slumped until mid-June and then got going offensively. When he was sidelined, Bogaerts was batting .262 with 10 home runs, 49 RBIs and a career-high 20 stolen bases.

The Padres have used Jose Iglesias, Mason McCoy and Jake Cronenworth to fill in for Bogaerts.

Despite a recent slump, San Diego (85-71) lowered its magic number for clinching a postseason spot to two on Sunday with a 3-2 win at the Chicago White Sox. The Padres can break open champagne bottles as soon as Tuesday night with two wins or a victory and a Cincinnati Reds loss.

Right-hander Nick Pivetta (13-5, 2.81 ERA) gets the ball for San Diego in this one, hoping for a longer outing than he had Wednesday in a 7-4 win at the New York Mets. Pivetta was removed one out shy of qualifying for a win, allowing three runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings while fanning five. He's 1-3 with a 9.95 ERA in 19 innings over four career starts against Milwaukee.

What kind of lineup he'll face Monday night is anyone's guess. The Brewers (95-61) clinched the division title Sunday shortly after a 5-1 loss in St. Louis, thanks to Cincinnati's 1-0 win over the Chicago Cubs. Milwaukee leads Philadelphia by three games for the NL's best record and home-field advantage throughout the league playoffs.

"It's about who's in the room and these are the right guys," Brewers manager Pat Murphy said in the postgame celebration. "They know how to play and they are special. This team does the little things ... the standards are high."

The news wasn't all good for Milwaukee on Sunday. It had to place Monday night's scheduled starter, right-hander Brandon Woodruff, on the 15-day injured list with a lat strain that he sustained during a bullpen session on Saturday.

Since returning from a right shoulder injury on July 6, Woodruff was 7-2 with a 3.20 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 64 2/3 innings over 12 starts.

Right-hander Freddy Peralta (17-6, 2.65) is listed as Monday's starter. He last pitched on Tuesday, earning a 9-2 home win over the Los Angeles Angels after allowing one run on two hits and two walks with 10 strikeouts in six innings.

The veteran has a 2-1 career record against the Padres with a 2.86 ERA in 22 innings over six appearances (three starts).

The Brewers suddenly are facing questions about the postseason rotation. Woodruff was placed on the IL retroactive to Sept. 18 and could be eligible to return by the NLDS. Left-hander Jose Quintana (calf) also is on the injured list and rookie righty Jacob Misiorowski is likely out of consideration after struggling down the stretch.

--Field Level Media