The Padres left themselves in a much better spot with Wednesday night’s 5-1 win over the Dodgers, and now they get a chance to make it stick. San Diego moved into sole possession of the top wild-card position and can clinch a playoff berth while protecting that spot in the finale of the series against Los Angeles.
Nick Pivetta gets the ball for the Padres, with Tyler Glasnow lined up for the Dodgers. Since coming off the injured list and making his first start back on Sept. 7, Pivetta has given manager Craig Stammen another arm to work with and helped cover for some rough outings from new additions Casey Mize and Robbie Ray.
Stammen has also shown he won’t wait around if a starter isn’t getting the job done. He’s become the modern version of Captain Hook, quick to go to the bullpen when a pitcher is missing strikes or failing to get outs, no matter who’s on the mound.
Glasnow brings a different kind of threat. During his time with the Tampa Bay Rays, he was a bona fide ace, and he still has the kind of stuff that can shut down an opponent on a given night. At the same time, he’s also been vulnerable with the Dodgers, and the Miami Marlins and Washington Nationals recently showed that by tagging him for four runs apiece - in four innings and six innings, respectively.
Still, this game is about more than the pitching matchup. The Padres’ grip on the top wild-card spot could carry major value if they can keep it, since that would give them total home-field advantage in the opening playoff series.
There’s also a little chaos baked into the race. Nobody expected the Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs to fall into the lower spots, and the Arizona Diamondbacks are still in the mix at three games back. That’s why Wednesday mattered so much, and why another win tonight would mean even more.
In Other News...
Padres Win Came With Two Pitching Developments Fans Need To See
The Padres 5-1 win over the Dodgers on Sunday came with more than just another notch in the standings. Robbie Ray handled the early work by giving up one earned run over 3.1 innings, and five relievers finished the job with 5.2 scoreless frames as San Diego kept building toward October at 88-70.
The more interesting part for the Padres is what came with the roster churn around the victory. The club designated a veteran pitcher for assignment, sent another to the Arizona Complex League, and activated Jason Adam from the injured list, while Craig Stammen also offered fresh updates on Joe Musgroves recovery and Walker Buehlers postseason role. For a team already thinking beyond the regular season, those pitching developments may matter as much as the final score. [Read more 🡒]
Padres Answered The Dodgers In A Game That Meant Plenty
A night after the kind of result that can tilt a division race, the Padres responded with a win that carried plenty of weight of its own. Manny Machados two-run homer helped set the tone in a 5-1 victory over the Dodgers in the second game of the series, giving San Diego a needed answer in a matchup that rarely feels ordinary.
David Morgan provided one of the sharper late-game moments, striking out Shohei Ohtani to help preserve the lead and keep the Padres in control. The win also left San Diego a game ahead of the Cubs and Phillies for the top National League wild-card seed after other results broke in its favor, a small but meaningful cushion with the standings still tight. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Just Got A New Bullpen Problem In San Diego
The Padres are getting a key arm back at a timely moment, with right-hander Jason Adam set to come off the 60-day injured list ahead of the series against the Dodgers. San Diego plans to clear a spot by optioning Griffin Canning to Triple-A, with a corresponding 40-man move still to come, and Adam is expected to slide back into the bullpen mix quickly.
Even with the return, the picture is still a little unsettled because Adam has not been sharp in his recent rehab outings. The Padres are clearly betting that getting him back into a major league environment will help, and the timing only adds to the stakes with Los Angeles on deck, since San Diego will want every leverage arm available for what should be a high-pressure stretch. [Read more 🡒]