Ha-Seong Kim still has shoulder discomfort while throwing, Elias Diaz starts first – San Diego Union-Tribune

Kim Ha-Seong continued throwing from the shortstop position during pregame drills on Thursday, though he admitted he wasn’t at full intensity and didn’t have a set schedule as he dealt with a locked-up right shoulder.

“I definitely feel better every day, day by day,” Kim said through an interpreter. David Lee“It’s true that it’s taking a little longer than I initially expected, but I guess I’m just taking it step by step.”

Kim hadn’t thrown from the other side of the ballpark until returning from Arizona to Petco Park earlier this week. Adding that length to what he says was an uninhibited swing is a critical step forward, even if he hasn’t thrown with full force yet.

“I wouldn’t say I’m 100 percent with my throws right now,” Kim said. “… The swing was the same — not much of an effect or anything — but the throwing is the part that makes me a little uncomfortable, but it’s getting better every day, so hopefully I’ll be back soon.”

Kim injured his right shoulder while diving for first base at Coors Field on Aug. 18. He was placed on the injured list shortly thereafter because of inflammation in his shoulder.

In his place, Mason McCoycalled up from Triple-A El Paso, has emerged as a shortstop and will be the ninth starter in Thursday’s lineup as the Padres look to win three games against the Detroit Tigers.

A win would give the Padres a full lead over the Diamondbacks in the race for the all-important NL wild-card spot, as Arizona has already lost in San Francisco.

The Padres (80-61) are 19 games over .500 for the first time since 2010.

Elias Diaz will get his first start since joining the team on Sunday. He was brought on as a defensive substitute in Wednesday’s win.

Diaz will take eighth place and will be the only change to the lineup from Wednesday.

Don’t panic… but here’s the lineup 😏 pic.twitter.com/EjS8OlETOd

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 5, 2024

Before the match, the outside player Jose Azocar, designated for allocation to enable Fernando Tatis Jr. The New York Mets announced they will be leaving the 60-day injured list on Monday.

Here is Detroit’s (70-70) lineup for the series finale:

Game 141 ⤵️ photo:twitter.com/6jWWBKczql

— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) September 5, 2024

Thursday’s pitchers clash

Tigers RHP Casey Mize (2-6, ERA 4.36)

It’s his 18th start after missing most of the 2022 season and all of 2023 due to Tommy John surgery. The 2018 first overall pick has pitched a career-high six innings and is making one start (6 IP, 4 ER) since returning from a hamstring strain.

Only three Padres have a history of working with Mize:

• INF Luis Arraez (3 of 12, 2k)
• 2B Xander Bogaerts (3 of 5, 2B, BB)
• C Kyle Higashioka (0-of-2, F)

Padres LHP Martín Pérez (4-5, 4.71 ERA)

The Padres have won each of his six starts, but Pérez has a 5.40 ERA over his last three starts. Opponents have a .940 OPS against Pérez in that span. Pérez limited the Tigers to one run in eight innings in a start for the Pirates in April.

Here’s how Perez fared against the current Tigers: