The Padres have effectively played shorthanded the last few days, with Ramón Laureano sliding over from left to center field and Gavin Sheets backfilling the left-field vacancy. Merrill's unavailability has coincided with shortstop Xander Bogaerts and second baseman Jake Cronenworth both missing a game apiece because of their own ills.

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LOS ANGELES — Jackson Merrill walked gingerly through the clubhouse Sunday afternoon, clearly favoring the left ankle that he rolled on Friday night. He wrapped it and played on it Saturday and got through two at-bats Sunday — both strikeouts — before the coaching staff pulled the plug on their 22-year-old center fielder.