Bud Black is gone, but the San Diego Padres' offensive troubles remain and those have particularly been an issue at home during interleague play.
The Padres will again attempt to get their first win under Dave Roberts and end their skid against AL foes at Petco Park on Tuesday against the Athletics before this series shifts to Oakland.
Black was fired Monday with San Diego (32-34) struggling to meet lofty expectations that came with a remade roster designed to compete for a postseason spot.
Nothing changed hours after Black's dismissal. The Padres were held to five hits in a 9-1 loss to Oakland (27-39).
"It definitely was a weird vibe today," losing pitcher Tyson Ross said. "I think I started on the day last year when Tony Gwynn passed and the anniversary is (Tuesday).
"But definitely a weird vibe coming in for us."
San Diego is in the bottom half of the majors with a .244 average, batting .179 with runners in scoring position with an average of 2.8 runs during a 3-6 stretch.
Matt Kemp has a .195 average in his past 41 games after hitting .330 in the first 24. The right fielder is also struggling in interleague play, going 6 for 38 (.158) in nine games after his 0-for-3 effort Monday.
The Padres have dropped eight of 10 games against the AL at home, including all four this year while being outscored 39-10.
Offensive production could be an issue again if Scott Kazmir (3-4, 2.79 ERA) can build on his latest outing and win back-to-back starts for the first time since opening 2015 at 2-0.
The left-hander went eight innings in a combined one-hitter with Evan Scribner in Thursday's 7-0 win over Texas, his longest outing of the season.
"It felt like I was in control out there," Kazmir said. "When I needed to hump up a little bit, I had it there and was able to hit my spot with it. That was the difference. Took a different approach, and it worked."
That may be needed on the road, where he's lost three straight starts with a 6.06 ERA. This will be his first appearance at Petco, and his only meeting with the Padres came with Tampa Bay on June 12, 2007.
Kazmir will likely have Stephen Vogt behind the plate, and he hit his second career grand slam while adding two more hits and an RBI on Monday. He was 1 for 32 in his previous 10 road games.
The Padres turn to Andrew Cashner (2-8, 4.16), who is 0-1 with an 8.47 ERA over his last three starts. The right-hander surrendered four runs and seven hits with four walks in 6 2-3 innings Thursday in a 6-4 win in 11 at Atlanta.
The offense has let Cashner down throughout the season, as he's been backed by one run or none in eight of his last 10 games. He's received four total runs of support at home, where he's lost all five of his starts despite a 3.52 ERA.
That's also been the issue during interleague play. He owns a 2.36 ERA in eight career games - six starts - against AL opponents at Petco, but only has a 2-3 record since the offense provided him with either one run or none in four of those starts.
Cashner's only meeting with the A's was a relief appearance with the Chicago Cubs on June 17, 2010.
