The San Diego Padres have gone from deadline mystery team to one of the hottest clubs in baseball, and their latest run has only pushed that conversation further.
A few weeks ago, there was real uncertainty around what direction San Diego would take at the trade deadline. Buyers?
Sellers? That question got answered fast once the Padres strengthened their rotation.
They landed Robbie Ray in a deal with the San Francisco Giants, then added Casey Mize and Gage Workman in a trade with the Detroit Tigers.
Since then, the results have done the talking.
The Padres have been rolling over the last few weeks, and they backed that up with a strong showing against one of the toughest stretches on their schedule. Last week started with a matchup against the Milwaukee Brewers, Bleacher Report’s top team in the power rankings, and then moved into a series with a Cleveland Guardians team that demands respect.
San Diego didn’t blink. They swept the Brewers in three games, then followed that up by taking two of three from the Guardians to finish 5-1 on the week.
That kind of week caught the attention of Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter, who moved the Padres from No. 10 to No. 7 in his latest power rankings.
"The Padres have not lost a series since dropping three of four to the Atlanta Braves from July 20-23, and last week's three-game sweep of the Brewers was a clear indication that this team is the real deal. If they had not won eight of nine heading into deadline day, they might have been sellers, and now they're arguably the hottest team in baseball."
For San Diego, the formula is simple from here: stay healthy and keep stacking wins. If they do that, they’ll be a team the rest of the league has to keep an eye on the rest of the way.
In Other News...
Brewers Finally Have Injury Relief On The Way At Key Spots
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Brice Turang is set to return on Aug. 18 after missing the Dodgers series with left knee pain, while Sal Frelick could also be back as soon as that day if the Brewers make the call to activate him. Cooper Pratt is eligible to come off the injured list on Aug. 19 and will begin a rehab assignment, Abner Uribe is eligible later in the month, and JoJo Romero is expected back before August ends after his emergency appendectomy. For a team that has spent plenty of time juggling its lineup and bullpen, the next week should bring some much-needed clarity. [Read more 🡒]
Jake Bauers Is Forcing A Tough Brewers Offseason Call
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That is why the Brewers are staring at a tougher offseason than they probably expected when they brought him in. If they want to keep him in the fold, the front office has a decision to make about how much value to place on his breakout, and how much roster flexibility it wants to preserve as it sorts out the rest of the infield and first base picture for the seasons ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Brewers Are Watching One Draft Bet Look Smarter Than Ever
The Brewers have found themselves with a pair of intriguing infield bets in the Ebel brothers, and the early returns have only made the organization look sharper for taking the long view. Milwaukee drafted Brady Ebel out of high school in 2025 and followed by selecting his younger brother Trey in 2026, then watched both move quickly enough to climb in the clubs prospect rankings.
Bradys recent promotion to High-A with the Wisconsin Timber Rattlers is the kind of step that starts to turn a prospect from interesting into legitimate. He has also cracked MLB Pipelines Top 100, while Trey is beginning his pro path at Low-A with the Wilson Warbirds, giving the Brewers two young shortstops in the system who are drawing attention for more than just the family connection. [Read more 🡒]