The San Diego Padres have gone from looking buried to looking very much alive, and a big part of that shift has come after the trade deadline.
A team that spent much of the year fighting through a shaky starting rotation and an offense that couldn’t find much rhythm has been steadier since the All-Star Break. The rotation got a lift when the Padres brought in Casey Mize and Robbie Ray, and both pitchers have already given San Diego some much-needed depth.
Mize, who arrived from the Detroit Tigers, made it clear he’s happy with where he landed.
“One organization decided to go for it and the other one didn’t,” Mize said. “Each organization has to make decisions based on what they view is best. And I’m not knocking either one, but I’m happy to be on a team that is pushing for it.
“It’s a lot more fun to play in meaningful games, and we have a real opportunity to do that.”
The right-hander has posted a 7.00 ERA in four starts since the trade, but that number is skewed by a rough debut. Outside of that outing, he has been solid for San Diego. He also exited his most recent start early because of an ankle injury, though he’s healthy now.
Next up, Mize is set to start the series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays, a tough assignment against the top team in the American League.
The Padres need that kind of help as they try to lock down a playoff spot. They’re currently holding the final wild-card position in the National League, 1.5 games ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks.
With the way San Diego has played lately, the path to October looks much clearer than it did earlier in the season. The club has started to come together on both sides of the ball, and that’s given it real momentum heading into the final stretch.
There’s still more than a month left in the regular season, so nothing is settled yet. But right now, the Padres have energy, confidence and a legitimate chance to finish the job.
In Other News...
Padres Suddenly Face A Bigger Concern With Luis Rengifo
The Padres were already dealing with the usual late-season grind when Luis Rengifos night took a sudden turn in the seventh inning against the Rays. The utility man went down without contact, stayed on the field for several minutes in obvious pain and ultimately had to be carted off after being unable to put weight on his right leg, a scary scene for a player who has carved out a meaningful role since joining San Diego after starting the season with Milwaukee.
Rengifo had become a useful piece for the Padres in 38 games, giving the club flexibility and production in a spot where depth always matters. Now the bigger concern is less about the box score from one game and more about how long San Diego might have to go without him, with the team waiting on a much clearer picture of what the lower-leg injury means. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Have A Samad Taylor Decision They Cant Dodge
Samad Taylors quick rise in San Diego has turned into one of the quieter roster questions on the Padres radar. Signed to a minor-league deal in January, he earned a call to the majors on June 3 and made a real impression before a right oblique strain knocked him out on July 8. In 26 games, Taylor hit .330/.410/.398 and chipped in six stolen bases, the kind of production that can change how a club thinks about its bench and lineup depth.
He is back on a rehab assignment now, and the early results have only complicated the decision the Padres are going to have to make. Taylor has been productive in seven Triple-A games, slashing .304/.407/.478, and that performance is likely to keep pressure on the club to find him a meaningful role once he is fully ready. The issue is not whether he has earned attention. It is how San Diego fits him in when he returns. [Read more 🡒]
Ethan Salas Is Making A Padres Decision Much Harder Than Expected
Ethan Salas has made a quick impression since his late-July move to Triple-A, turning what looked like a developmental step into a legitimate late-season question for the Padres. The top prospect has hit .325 with three home runs and 25 RBIs over 22 games, giving the organization a compelling reason to keep watching him closely as the major league roster tries to sort itself out for the stretch run.
Manager Craig Stammen has already acknowledged Salas is capable of handling the majors, but ability is only part of the decision now. San Diego has to weigh his readiness against the ripple effects of a promotion, and the club is also factoring in how a potential lockout could affect roster moves and player contact, which only adds another layer to a call that has gotten a lot more complicated than it seemed a month ago. [Read more 🡒]