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 and Xander Bogaerts served in that role Tuesday against a left-handed starting pitcher. The last two days Merrill was the five-hole hitter.

Having warded off the challenge of the third-place Giants, the San Diego Padres can turn their attention upward in the National League West standings when they shoot for a three-game sweep in San Francisco on Wednesday afternoon.