Some two weeks into the season, Martín Maldonado is hitting .333/.333/.476 with a homer as the No. 2 catcher. It’s early, to be sure, but his production at the bottom of the lineup is a bonus on top of the defense he provides behind the plate. It’s also another reason to expand his palate as Maldonado will catch left-hander Kyle Hart for the first time this season. To date, Maldonado has caught only Dylan Cease and Randy Vásquez, while Eliaz Díaz had caught Michael King, Nick Pivetta and Hart. Maldonado catching Hart on Saturday (5:40 p.m. on Padres.TV) will allow Díaz to be fresh for the day-after-night pairing with King on Sunday. Naturally, both have been preparing for the pairing. “It’s just an opportunity for Martín and Kyle to work together the last several days,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said, “and be ready to compete tonight.” Maldonado will hit ninth on Saturday, taking over the spot that Díaz filled a day earlier in an identical lineup. Hart won Padres debut (5 IP, 2 ER) but the 32-year-old rookie could not get out of the first inning last weekend at Wrigley Field, as he walked four, allowed two hits and gave up five runs in two-thirds of an inning. Righties have a 1.375 OPS in 22 plate appearances, while lefties have a .400 OPS in five plate appearances. “We’re going to find out,” Shildt said of what Hart took out of his last outing. “I think he clearly felt like he could have done one or more things, you know, as far as being in the strike zone to start with, and but I think Kyle’s an experienced guy, has got the international experience as well, and I’m excited to see him pitch tonight.” Saturday’s opposing pitcher is a rookie of a different kind. Rockies right-hander Chase Dollander (1-0, 7.20 ERA) won his MLB debut on Sunday with six strikeouts over innings (4 ER) against the Athletics at Coors Field. The 23-year-old is ranked No. 24 among MLB.com’s top-100 prospects. The Rockies drafted Dollander ninth overall in 2023 out of Tennessee, which produced Hall-of-Famer Todd Helton. Here is how the Rockies, who will be without center fielder Brenton Doyle (quad) a second straight game, will line up: Silver Sluggers, careful hamstring Before the game, the Padres will honor both Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill for the NL Silver Slugger awards they earned last year for third base and center field, respectively. Hitting coach Victor Rodriguez and assistants Mike McCoy and Pat O’Sullivan presenting the awards was at Machado’s request. “Those are the guys that, with their blood, sweat and tears, take zero credit,” Shildt said. “They do their jobs. They do it very well, but I thought it’s nice for them to be a part of that with Manny and Jackson this afternoon.” The walk out behind home plate will be all Padres fans see of Merrill this weekend as he hit the 10-day injured list with a right hamstring strain on Tuesday. He is doing pool work, but not yet swinging a bat or really doing anything remotely explosive. “As we progress, it’ll start to ramp up,” Shildt said. “Hopefully sooner than later, but we’re going to take our time.” Added Merrill: “Day by day. We’ll see here in a little bit, but feel good.”