The San Diego Padres are on the verge of clinching a postseason berth for the third consecutive season. However, the club has been through plenty of ups and downs in 2026.
With three-fifths of the starting rotation out for nearly three months, the Padres stumbled into the All-Star break with a 48-49 record. Their playoff hopes seemed lost, as they sit 13.5 games back in the National League West standings.
However, with the blink of an eye, the Friars went on a 39-12 run since July 17. It has tied them
with the Milwaukee Brewers for the best record since the start of the second half. The hot streak has allowed the Padres to separate themselves from the Arizona Diamondbacks over the last 10 games.
But more work remains in the final week of the regular season. The Friars are tied with the Chicago Cubs for the top Wild Card berth. The Cubs hold the advantage, as they took the season series. To claim home field advantage in the Wild Card round, San Diego will have to finish one game ahead of them in the standings at season’s end.
Home field advantage is important
The Padres have been dominant at home this season, carrying a 49-29 record that vastly outshines their 38-40 mark on the road. Yes, the playoffs are a different story, but the team has an all-time playoff reccord of 8-6 at Petco Park.
You want home-field advantage in the Wild Card round because all three games are played at the higher-seeded team’s stadium. If the Friars meet the Cubs again, it is better to host them at Petco Park.
The Padres dynamic duo
What an incredible turnaround for the bats, as they have been sizzling since the All-Star break. The lineup has maintained an impressive .348 team OBP, 373 hits, and 153 walks during this stretch.
Fernando Tatis Jr. has fueled the surge, batting .290 with 12 home runs and 32 RBIs. Tatis Jr. is poised to have a better postseason than 2025. He was silent, going 1-for-12 with zero RBIs vs. the Cubs in the Wild Card round.
Another contributor is Ty France (.324, 9 HRs, 30 RBIs, and a .924 OPS), who has exceeded all expectations at the plate. It seemed like every game-tying or game-winning hit came off his bat during the second-half comeback. No question, France can raise his free-agent value with a productive October.
Naturally, the Friars will rely heavily on their production to advance in the postseason.
King has been dominant from start to finish
Michael King struggled to find consistency in the first half, posting a 7-7 mark in 19 starts. But he has found himself and is finishing the season strong. Disregard his hiccup in Los Angeles last night; King allowed just five earned runs in his previous five starts.
Over that span, he went 4-0 with a 1.38 ERA and struck out 24 batters across 32.0 innings pitched. King set the tone for a starting rotation determined to lead the team into the postseason.
The next step for him is to pitch better in October and become a fearless performer who quiets strong playoff lineups. That was why the Padres brought King back to San Diego.
The 2026 season has not been easy, but the Friars have met every challenge put in front of them. Now, the club is on the cusp of playing October baseball.
