By not playing the team's breakout star of the first half on an everyday basis, Padres manager Mike Shildt can exploit matchups by using him in more favorable pitcher-hitter matchups down the stretch.

The Diamondbacks recently flip-flopped him and Geraldo Perdomo in the batting order, sending Carroll back to the three-hole and Perdomo to the top, but who knows if this even gets his wheels turning.

Merrill had largely served as the clean-up hitter all year, but he moved to sixth on Sunday as the Padres gave newcomer Ryan O’Hearn a look in the four-hole. O’Hearn was clean-up hitter again Monday ...