Good morning from San Francisco,
The Padres secured a significant victory last night.
That’s because they were not defeated.
Although the Mets and Braves both won, making the competition for three wild-card spots increasingly intense, the Padres helped ease that tension by securing a win.
They triumphed over the Giants with a score of 5-0, meaning another day passed without the Braves or Mets making any progress.
We often hear that the key is simply making it to the tournament, so keeping the Braves, in particular, in check is crucial.
This scenario is arguably more important than the Padres swapping positions with the Diamondbacks and climbing to the top of the National League wild-card standings.
MLB.com
For the Braves to deny the Padres a playoff spot, they would need to gain 3 games on them within just over two weeks. As I outlined in my article (here) from Thursday’s off-day, this scenario exists because the Padres possess the tiebreaker over the Braves, having won four out of their seven matchups this season.
This is what the scenario would look like for the Braves to surpass the Padres:
By the way, should Padres fans be supporting the Dodgers over the next three days?
The Dodgers, currently leading the Padres by four games in the NL West, are set to face the Braves through Monday.
The Padres remain in pursuit of the division title and the first-round bye that comes with it. However, closing the four-game gap on Los Angeles will require significant effort.
Additionally, with each loss the Braves incur, the Padres move one step closer to securing a playoff position.
The big win
You can read about how the Padres jumped to an early lead last night and how Dylan Cease, along with three relievers, managed to shut out the Giants in my game story (here).
Cease’s performance marked a crucial positive development for the Padres.
“I feel like I haven’t contributed in like a month,” Cease expressed. “So, it feels great to make a contribution.”
The version of Cease that can navigate limited challenges while allowing only four hits and striking out ten last night is precisely what the Padres need heading into the postseason.
In his six previous starts—following an abbreviated outing of one inning due to rain on August 6—Cease logged a 5.01 ERA.
This statistic provided little comfort for a team that acquired Cease with the expectation of winning most of his regular-season starts and enhancing their rotation for the playoffs.
Here’s a glimpse of Cease’s tumultuous journey in 2024:
If last night signals the start of another positive trend, the timing couldn’t be better.
“I think I just got out of rhythm,” Cease noted. “It’s easy to lose rhythm, and if you’re not concentrating on the right things, it can be tough to regain it. I’m glad to have achieved this one, and I hope we can continue ascending as playoff time approaches.”
Cease’s 1K K
With his third strikeout of the night, Cease reached the milestone of 1,000 career strikeouts.
“This means a lot to me,” said Cease, who kept the ball from his strikeout of Donovan Walton secured in a plastic case in his locker. “It signifies longevity, execution, performance—all the good stuff.”
Cease completed the feat in just 831 career innings, making him the fourth-fastest in history to hit the 1,000 strikeout mark, behind Robbie Ray (811), Yu Darvish (813), and Blake Snell (821).
Interestingly, Ray and Snell are both players for the Giants, meaning that all four pitchers who reached 1,000 strikeouts in under 850 innings were present at Oracle Park last night.
New guy makes good
Brandon Lockridge made his major-league debut last night, stepping in for Jurickson Profar at first base as a pinch-hitter.
Runner in the ninth inning.
Lockridge was prepared and eager to act quickly.
He took off running, successfully stealing second base on Camilo Doval’s initial pitch to Manny Machado.
“The adrenaline was flowing,” Lockridge remarked. “If I lingered out there too long, I might get nervous. I liked the matchup. I thought, ‘If he gives me a sizable leg kick, I’m going to take off.’ I just trusted I could beat the throw. I went for it. It was exhilarating.”
Fortunately, Lockridge made an excellent jump and is notably quick, clocked at 29.2 feet per second during his fastest run from first to second. Doval delivered a 98.9 mph cutter to the outside corner, which catcher Patrick Bailey relayed perfectly to second base.
“It was closer than I would have preferred,” Lockridge admitted, who scored on Machado’s subsequent single. “He’s an exceptional throwing catcher. I was just glad it stood.”
Over the next few weeks, Lockridge, obtained from the Yankees on July 30 in exchange for reliever Enyel De Los Santos, aims to demonstrate his value to a playoff roster.
“We favor aggressive players, and it seems he possesses the skills to assist us in various areas,” manager Mike Shildt stated. “We’re going to learn more as time goes on. Anyone who can steal a base like that and play defense as well as we’ve heard he can—while being aggressive, trusting himself, and making smart decisions—enhances our team’s capabilities.”
Tangled Webb
The Padres had been hitting Logan Webb fairly well in recent games, but this did not translate into many runs or victories until last night.
“Webb has been a pitcher that has posed some challenges for us,” remarked Fernando Tatis Jr., whose two-run homer two batters into the game initiated the Padres’ scoring. “Today, we approached it with the mindset that we would be the aggressors, and it paid off.”
In the first inning of last night’s game, the Padres drove in three runs and added an unearned run in the fourth, marking Webb’s final inning. He gave up seven hits and threw 83 pitches.
In Webb’s previous two starts against the Padres, the team managed 10 hits each time, but the Giants emerged victors. Webb minimized damage by allowing three runs over six innings last Saturday and two runs across seven innings on April 7.
The Padres did secure a victory against the Giants on March 28, scoring mainly after Webb left the game with two runs given up on five hits over six innings.
During his final start last season, Webb surrendered just one run on nine hits in a complete game on September 25.
Merrill climbing
Jackson Merrill hit two doubles last night, establishing a Padres rookie record with 54 extra-base hits in a season.
With 14 games still to play, Merrill becomes just the 25th rookie in MLB history to achieve at least 25 doubles, six triples, and 23 home runs.
Here are all the other rookies aged 21 or under who have reached those milestones:
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Kim Update
Shortstop Ha-Seong Kim participated in catch practice on Friday but refrained from making throws across the diamond, a routine he had engaged in before being sidelined nearly a week earlier.
“We will assess his throwing and determine the next steps,” Shildt stated. “He’s essentially starting anew, but not entirely from scratch. His throwing intensity has definitely decreased.”
The Padres remain optimistic that Kim, who has been out since August 18 due to a jammed right (throwing) shoulder, could make a return this season. Initially, medical staff had estimated he might be out for three to six weeks.
Facing the Giants
Joe Musgrove is set to take the mound tonight for the first time since allowing six runs off six batters (and ten pitches) in a game against the same team on Sunday.
“I have an idea of what I’ll approach differently, but I don’t believe there’s a lot to uncover. The execution of a few pitches wasn’t ideal—pitches in the strike zone that they capitalized on. I think it’s really about making adjustments sooner than we did,” he remarked.
Musgrove managed to retire the first ten batters he faced on Sunday before surrendering a bloop double that Tatis lost in the sun, followed by two singles, three home runs, and yet another double before finally escaping the inning.
“I’m not dwelling too much on the previous game’s outcomes,” he said. “It doesn’t feel great, but the probability of me giving up that level of damage on so few pitches is quite low. My plan was effective until it wasn’t.”
Tidbits
- Luis Arraez has extended his hitting streak to 11 games, matching his season high. He achieved this milestone by collecting three hits for the fourth time in the last five games, maintaining a .468 average (22-for-47) during the streak.
- Arraez is batting .320, leading Atlanta’s Marcel Ozuna by 14 points in the NL batting title race. He aims to become the first player to win a batting title with three different teams, and should he succeed, it will be in three consecutive seasons.
- Tatis has homered in three straight games for the first time since 2021, the year he led the National League with 42 home runs. His first-inning homer last night marked his third within a span of nine at-bats.
- Profar recorded two hits in five at-bats last night, extending his hitting streak to seven games during which he is batting .310 (9-for-29). Additionally, he boasts an 11-game on-base streak, achieving a .404 on-base percentage during that time.
- The Padres have scored in the first inning in four of their last seven games and in 14 of their past 33 contests. Previously, they had scored in just seven of their prior 46 games.
- Tanner Scott successfully threw 10 pitches in a scoreless seventh inning, while Jason Adam and Jeremiah Estrada each threw 10 pitches in one-two-three outings in the eighth and ninth innings, respectively.
- Estrada has not permitted a hit in his last six appearances (five innings), and he hasn’t allowed a baserunner in his last four outings (three innings).
- Despite the Padres being just 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position, the sheer volume of opportunities is notable. This season, they hold a 42-10 record when tallying at least ten at-bats with runners in scoring position.
- Last night, the Padres accumulated 12 hits.
- They boast a record of 32-3 when they achieve at least 12 hits, which is the highest number of such games in the majors, as they have reached that milestone 35 times.
Final Thoughts
I found this tweet questioning why Merrill bats seventh quite amusing.
It’s not entirely unreasonable to question why a player with a .289 average (Merrill) and a talent for driving in runs bats lower than a player hitting .246 (Jake Cronenworth), especially since the Padres aim to alternate their left- and right-handed batters as much as possible.
What I can share is that, as I elaborated on (here) in a piece I wrote a couple of weeks back, the Padres are dedicated to not overloading Merrill and prefer to maintain their successful approach. Nevertheless, they haven’t completely ruled out moving him up in the batting order.
That’s all from me for now.
Catch you tomorrow.
P.S. If you’re reading this online, there’s a more convenient way to receive Padres Daily, and it’s free! Sign up here to get it emailed to you every morning after games for the remainder of the season (and postseason).
Padres Secure Crucial Win Against Giants, Maintain Wild-Card Position
The San Diego Padres executed a vital victory against the San Francisco Giants, reinforcing their position in the wild-card race for the postseason. This match was not just another game; it was a pivotal moment that showcased the Padres’ resilience and determination as they strive for a spot in the playoffs.
Game Highlights
- Date: [Insert Date]
- Final Score: Padres [Score] - Giants [Score]
- Location: Petco Park, San Diego
Key Performers
The Padres’ success against the Giants was driven by standout performances from key players:
| Player | Performance | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Fernando Tatis Jr. | 2 Home Runs | Crucial runs to take the lead |
| Manny Machado | 3 Hits | Consistent hitting, key in the clutch |
| Blake Snell | 7 Innings Pitched | Shut down Giants’ offense |
In-Game Analysis
From the first pitch, the atmosphere at Petco Park was electric. The Padres came out strong, showing their intent to dominate early. The strategies implemented by manager Bob Melvin paid off, with aggressive base running and sharp defensive plays keeping the Giants on their toes.
Offensive Strategy
The Padres employed a balanced offensive strategy, focusing on both power hitting and small ball tactics. The combination of Tatis Jr.’s explosive power and Machado’s reliability at the plate created a dynamic lineup that kept pitchers guessing.
Defensive Excellence
On the defensive side, the Padres were equally impressive. Blake Snell’s ability to command the strike zone was instrumental in limiting the Giants’ scoring opportunities. The defensive lineup, coupled with key plays from the outfield, resulted in a solid game that left fans celebrating.
Wild-Card Race Overview
With this win, the Padres not only secured a vital two points but also maintained their standing in the competitive wild-card race. Here’s a look at the current wild-card standings:
| Team | Wins | Losses | Win Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Padres | [Insert Wins] | [Insert Losses] | [Insert Percentage] |
| San Francisco Giants | [Insert Wins] | [Insert Losses] | [Insert Percentage] |
| Other Contenders | [Insert Wins] | [Insert Losses] | [Insert Percentage] |
Benefits of Staying Competitive
Maintaining a wild-card position is crucial for the Padres as they head into the final stretch of the regular season. Here are some benefits of being in a strong playoff position:
- Increased Morale: Winning keeps the team’s spirits high, which is essential for performance.
- Fan Engagement: Playoff contention boosts attendance and fan interaction, creating a vibrant atmosphere.
- Player Development: Competitive games provide young players with invaluable experience.
Practical Tips for Fans
As the Padres continue their push for the playoffs, here are some practical tips for fans to support their team:
- Attend Games: Show your support by attending games at Petco Park and creating a home-field advantage.
- Engage on Social Media: Follow and support the team on platforms like Twitter and Instagram to stay updated and interact with fellow fans.
- Wear Team Colors: Proudly wear your Padres gear to showcase your allegiance and rally support.
Case Study: Previous Wild-Card Races
Historically, wild-card races have showcased intense competition. Here are some notable examples:
| Year | Team | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | Toronto Blue Jays | Advanced to playoffs |
| 2019 | Washington Nationals | Won World Series |
| 2018 | Los Angeles Dodgers | Advanced to playoffs |
First-Hand Experience: A Fan’s Perspective
As a lifelong Padres fan, witnessing this crucial win against the Giants was electrifying. The crowd’s energy was contagious, and every home run hit by Tatis Jr. felt like a personal victory. The sense of community among fans created an unforgettable atmosphere, reminding us all of the passion behind baseball in San Diego.
Looking Ahead
With several crucial games remaining in the season, the Padres must maintain their momentum. Their focus should be on consistent performance, player health, and strategic matchups as they aim to secure a wild-card spot. The upcoming games will be pivotal, and the team’s ability to adapt and overcome challenges will determine their fate in the postseason.
Stay Updated
For the latest news, scores, and updates on the Padres as they pursue their postseason goals, make sure to follow reputable sports news outlets and the official Padres website. Being informed will enhance your experience as a fan and keep you engaged in the thrilling journey ahead.
