Can Padres Claw Their Way Into The Playoffs After A Disappointing First Half?

Given that the San Diego Padres need to pass three teams merely to qualify for the MLB postseason, it is a strange thing to say. The Padres do, however, have influence over their own course of action because they will play rivals and successful opponents.

Can Padres Claw Their Way Into The Playoffs After A Disappointing First Half?

This weekend, the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres will play a three-game series at Chase Field. They now have a 4-2 record this year versus the DBacks. The Padres will start a 10-game homestand against the Miami Marlins, Baltimore Orioles, and Arizona Diamondbacks. In the end, they had a 2-1 record this year versus the Marlins.

The Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals will be the opponents for two of the Padres’ six road games. The real fun starts after that.

The Padres are now stuck in a bad four-game losing run, which has dropped them five games below.500 and put them behind four other clubs in the race for the last National League wild-card spot. Additionally, they are 4 1/2 games outside of the playoffs.

This wasn’t how things were meant to be given the superstar-filled roster (Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, and Xander Bogaerts make for a partial listing). One might easily contend that the Padres were superior to the dominant Dodgers on paper heading into the 2023 season. Let’s just say that hasn’t been how events have played out.

Can the Padres break this specific script down the stretch, make the playoffs for the third time in the past four years, and go on a strong October/November run that makes everyone forget about the rest of their 2023?

San Francisco Giants and the Padres will play a crucial four-game series at Petco. The Philadelphia Phillies will then visit them for three games. They play the Dodgers and Houston Astros in a grueling six-game road trip. The Padres will also play series against the Chicago White Sox, Cardinals, Giants, Rockies, and Oakland Athletics to round up the regular season.

If the Padres can defeat the teams in front of them, they will have the chance to build their own fortune. Their performance over the next weeks ought to reveal where they stand in the battle for the wildcard.

Fundamentally, the Padres haven’t performed like a 55–60 club. They now rank fourth in the National League with a run differential of plus-56. A record of 63-52 should be produced by that sort of run differential, which is enormously eight games better than their actual record.

Due to their issues in one-run games, the Padres have underperformed relative to their real team quality. Yes, bullpen quality and tactical judgment can have a minor impact on such situations, but the majority of one-run game outcomes are determined by chance, whether it is good or poor.

Joe Musgrove has been sidelined by the San Diego Padres for three weeks due to a shoulder ailment. They still have a competent staff, though, so they can pitch. The Padres’ pitching ranks them sixth. Additionally, their bullpen is ranked third, and their starters are third in baseball.

Yu Darvish has an ERA of 4.17 and is 8-7. Blake Snell, who has an 8-8 record and a 2.61 ERA, is a Cy Young candidate. With a 4-6 record and a 4.19 ERA, Seth Lugo has demonstrated effectiveness. Despite several injuries in the rotation, the Padres are somehow still standing.

Josh Hader has been outstanding, posting a 0-1 record, a 0.86 ERA, and 26 saves. Tom Cosgrove is currently 1-2 with a 1.67 ERA and three holds. Stephen Wilson has a record of 1-1, a 3.17 ERA, and 21 holds. Nick Martinez, who has a 5-4 record, 14 holds, and one save, has also been the best utility player.

The Padres continue to give opposing batters little opportunities.

Michael Wacha, a right-handed starter, has been out since July 1 due to shoulder inflammation, while Joe Musgrove, a pitcher who resembles an ace, has also been out since July 28 due to shoulder irritation. Wacha, who had a 2.84 ERA and 3.72 FIP in 15 starts before getting hurt, has just started a minor league rehab stint at the Double-A level.

Musgrove’s recovery timetable is less definite, therefore it’s feasible that he won’t be able to return this season. However, a comeback has not yet been ruled out, and it is clear that the Padres need him to return in time to make at least a few starts.

Manny Machado is on the plate.251 with 66 RBIs, 54 runs, and 21 home homers. Xander Bogaerts is batting in the background.52 runs, 37 RBIs, and 265 total bases. At bat is Juan Soto.73 RBIs, 65 runs, 24 home runs, and 270 total bases. Fernando Tatis Jr. is also hitting.256 with 60 RBIs, 63 runs, and 19 home homers. The club should be supported by these four outstanding hitters. Furthermore, if they both start to heat up at the same moment, they may propel a postseason run.

They have struggled to put together consistent hitting this season. Regardless, this team is dangerous since all four have a strong pedigree. One of the reasons the Padres still have a chance to succeed is because of this.

The Padres’ upcoming schedule, though, is now ranked 21st in MLB by that same metric. That isn’t a big change, but it is a slight one in San Diego’s favor.

The clubs ahead of the Padres in the line for the last wild-card slot will also have many chances to beat them. For example, they still have three games remaining against the Marlins and seven games versus the Diamondbacks. Numerous upcoming games against the Brewers, Giants, and Phillies might potentially prove to be important.

If they are successful in having Musgrove back in time for that run? Better still.

 

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