Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in San Diego Padres fans and fans across the country. Sign up here to participate in the weekly emailed surveys.
Earlier this week, fans were asked if they thought the Padres are going to be a postseason team. At the break, they held on to the final Wild Card spot by a half game on the Giants and after tonight’s win over the Nationals they’re 1.5 up. Below are the results to this week’s
poll:
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No surprise the majority think San Diego is a postseason team and I’m on that side of this question too.
Are there weaknesses on the roster that A.J. Preller needs to address before the end of the month? Of course. But at the end of the day successful teams have a core of players that can consistently carry the squad to October and the Padres undoubtedly have that.
One of those guys started at third in the All-Star Game and then hit a grand slam to break things open tonight.
Slam Diego is back! pic.twitter.com/dcMa238IgF
— Talking Friars (@TalkingFriars) July 19, 2025
The others—Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, Xander Bogaerts and Jake Cronenworth—have had good stretches in 2025 but need to have it all clicking come October.
Tatis (1.011 April OPS) and Merrill (1.090 April OPS) have failed to replicate that in another month this season. Bogaerts has been more encouraging as of late, as has Tatis, Merrill and Cronenworth, but even he’d agree his start to the season should’ve been better.
Luis Arraez and Gavin Sheets of course are important but they could be gone after this season.
The good news is all these guys are here for a reason: they’re better than most. Mike Shildt’s teams are second half teams too so watch out rest of the NL.
On the pitching side of things, having the upside of Dylan Cease and the potential dominance from Nick Pivetta (their best starter this year), Michael King (mid-August return hopefully) and Yu Darvish (just returned) can make for a World Series caliber four-man rotation.
Oh yeah...the bullpen. It’s ok. There are just THREE All-Stars at the back of it, the first time that’s happened in MLB history. Jeremiah Estrada (2.86 ERA) isn’t bad to have as your fourth high leverage reliever when he’d be a closer on some teams.
I’m just waiting for this group to get everyone back and see the deadline additions. Then that’s when I feel like those fans that voted no will turn to a yes.
The results of this survey were brought to you by FanDuel.
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