The Padres are down to their final six games, and the path to a postseason berth is looking pretty clear: their magic number is 2. San Diego heads to Los Angeles on Tuesday for a three-game series with the Dodgers, then finishes the regular season at home against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
At the moment, the Padres sit tied with the Chicago Cubs for the top wild-card spot and hold a one-game edge over the Philadelphia Phillies for the last playoff place. Chicago’s next opponent is the recently-swept Miami Marlins, while the Phillies are lined up against the red-hot Milwaukee Brewers.
San Diego’s surge has come with some big individual performances, and Jake Cronenworth is right in the middle of it. The All-Star infielder was named National League Player of the Week after hitting .464 over the last seven games, with two home runs and eight RBIs during that stretch.
There’s also a less encouraging update on Joe Musgrove. The 33-year-old right-hander has not pitched since October 2024, and despite expectations that he could return this season, a string of setbacks has kept him off the mound. His two-year anniversary on the shelf is approaching, and pain management after throwing sessions remains a major hurdle.
Manager Craig Stammen said Musgrove is still working through different approaches in an effort to get back.
"He's experimenting a little bit probably with how much he can throw and still be able to throw the next day," Stammen said. "This season we've given him a lot of time, and it hasn't quite worked out."
Elsewhere around the club, San Diego has continued to stack up strong numbers from its pitching staff. Since the All-Star break, Yuki Matsui has allowed only 3 ER in 28.1 IP, good for a 0.94 ERA, along with a 0.91 WHIP and 31 strikeouts.
Adrian Morejon has also been among the best relievers in baseball this season, posting a 121 proPitching+ with a 2.83 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 82.2 innings. Tanner Scott was next at 120, with Louis Varland at 117.
The Padres also recognized Ian Koenig as their TrulyNolen Player of the Week after two starts in which he logged 11 innings, allowed two runs, walked two, struck out six, and held opponents to a .179 batting average.
In Other News...
Padres Just Made A Rotation Move For Their Biggest Moment
With the Padres closing in on a National League Wild Card berth, Craig Stammen has adjusted the rotation to keep Michael King lined up for the clubs biggest swing of the season. King was moved to pitch on Tuesday, a move that leaves him available to start either the final game of the regular season or, if needed, the playoff opener against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
The timing fits the moment San Diego is in, with the Padres tied with the Chicago Cubs for the top Wild Card position and every day now carrying added weight. King has been one of the teams steadiest arms this season, and the decision to hold him back underlines how much the Padres are thinking about the immediate future, not just the next turn through the rotation. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Playoff Pitching Picture Just Got Much More Unsettled
The Padres are still in position for a postseason berth, but the path to sorting out their October pitching keeps getting murkier. Jason Adam is moving closer to coming back from a shoulder strain, though his rehab outing did not exactly calm any nerves, while Joe Musgrove remains a long shot to be available because of the recovery issues that have lingered around his return.
Casey Mize has only added another layer of uncertainty since joining San Diego, as his work has not inspired much confidence about where he fits when the games get bigger. With the Padres holding the second NL Wild Card spot, the organization has time to keep evaluating options, but the current rotation picture looks anything but settled. [Read more 🡒]
Joe Musgroves October Outlook Just Got More Concerning For Padres Fans
Joe Musgroves path back to the Padres has been slower than anyone hoped, and with October approaching, the latest update only adds to the uncertainty. He has not faced hitters since his last minor league rehab outing on Aug. 27 and remains on the injured list while working back from the Tommy John surgery he had in October 2024.
Manager Craig Stammen said Musgrove is still playing catch and trying to make it back this season, but the comeback has clearly taken longer than expected. San Diego has already given him plenty of time to return, and the most realistic path, if he does get back, appears to be in a relief role rather than a spot in the rotation. [Read more 🡒]