Padres Bullpen Collapses in Loss to Yankees

Jackson Merrill returned to the Padres' lineup after a 24-game absence due to a hamstring injury, going 2-for-4 with a double and a run scored, raising his season average to .390. Despite the Padres' bullpen leading the majors in ERA, they suffered a dramatic collapse in the seventh inning against the Yankees, allowing 10 runs in just 37 pitches. The team has recently enjoyed a five-game winning streak, aided by the healthy returns of Luis Arraez and Jason Heyward, while Xander Bogaerts is improving offensively. Dodgers rookie Roki Sasaki earned his first MLB win but continues to struggle with fastball consistency. The Padres are managing lineup changes with players like Jose Iglesias getting rest, and Jake Cronenworth is expected to return from injury soon. These developments highlight both the strengths and recent challenges faced by the Padres early in the 2025 season.