LOS ANGELES — The San Diego Padres will unveil their rebuilt lineup to the home fans for the first time Thursday in their home opener against the San Francisco Giants.
While the Padres are virtually certain to be a better offensive team than last year’s thoroughly punchless squad, the dampening effects of Petco Park — one of the most extreme pitchers’ parks in baseball — could prove challenging to the new additions.
“I think bigger than anything in the offseason was the idea to get good players, and hopefully that’s going to play anywhere,” Padres general manager A.J. Preller said.
The two men in the middle of the Padres’ made-over lineup, outfielders Matt Kemp and Justin Upton, have some positive history at Petco Park.
A frequent visitor with the division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers, Kemp has a career .322 average and a .867 on-base-plus-slugging percentage with seven home runs at Petco Park. Upton has hit .291 with 10 home runs there.
“I like Matt Kemp in any ballpark,” said Padres manager Bud Black, whose team lost 7-4 at Dodger Stadium on Wednesday to drop two of three in the season-opening series. “We have a lot of players who have hit well in our park, and that’s a good thing.”