One of the best marathons run each year is a baseball season. Once the calendar hits Labor Day, it begins the sprint to the finish. Too often, the summer contenders fade away, as they did not have the stamina to last the six-month journey.
For the San Diego Padres, the first week of September was as disastrous as possible. They lost the first four games of the month, but have rebounded nicely, winning the last two contests. Still, thoughts of a collapse have crept into the minds of the Friar Faithful.
Now, the next three weeks will determine if the Padres claim a postseason berth or begin their offseason vacation.
Catching the Dodgers is still viable
The winner of the National League West could be best described as being the most consistent among a group of inconsistent teams. At various times this season, the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, and the Friars looked ready to soar before coming to a crashing halt.
Since the All-Star break, all three teams have played well enough to remain in the playoff conversation. The Dodgers are 21-25 with only one series victory in the second half. You guessed it: the win was a three-game series sweep against the Padres at Dodger Stadium in mid-August.
Unlike seasons past, the Padres need to get their house in order before setting their sights on a division crown. Unfortunately, their hopes rely on others to defeat the Dodgers, as the Friars do not play them again in the regular season. But, San Diego can position themselves nicely by winning the majority of their remaining games.
The Padres are confident they can disrupt the Dodgers’ plans to host a wildcard round series. If not, no one can argue their success against the Friars in October.
Padres’ offense needs to produce
Inconsistency is the best term to describe the Padres’ offensive attack. The conversation should be over on the franchise’s payroll issues, as the Padres revamped their roster by adding salary at the trade deadline. September is the time to make an impact.
Someone in the lineup needs to become the anchor of the offense. What does that mean? Well, it means getting big hits that change the outcome of close games to your advantage. To remain in the postseason hunt, the Friars will have to match their season average (4.15) of scoring runs each night.
It is time for Manny Machado to get hot at the plate. His impact can carry the team to the postseason. Such an outcome could have lasting implications for Machado’s legacy with the franchise.
Starters need to provide length
Coming out of spring training, the Padres had a promising starting rotation, but that notion has come apart at the seams. Injuries and inconsistency have forced Friars manager Mike Shildt to turn to struggling Nestor Cortes in the most important starts of the season. The positives have come in small samples.
To remain in contention, the rotation will need to carry the Padres to the finish line. However, Dylan Cease has yet to rediscover the magic that earned him 14 wins last season. Darvish has allowed 33 runs in 51.2 innings pitched. The jury is still out if Michael King can make an impact on the season. What once seemed like a strength has become a weakness.
The Friars come home to face the Cincinnati Reds at Petco Park. It is a team trying to get back into the wildcard chase. Padres starters can set the tone and end their dreams with a series victory.
The 2025 Padres are built to play in October. But the team must perform well down the stretch to earn a postseason berth. If all goes well, the Friars will be a dangerous opponent.
