The San Diego Padres lost by a final of 2-1 against the Chicago White Sox on Sunday.
That didn’t matter, because the Milwaukee Brewers also lost to the Miami Marlins, meaning that San Diego secured its ticket to the postseason because the Brew Crew, the best-placed team currently without a postseason spot, won’t be able to pass them at this point.
That’s right: the Padres will be playing October baseball for just the second time in the last 16 years.
The Padres clinched pic.twitter.com/KWyRxoPcO6
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) October 2, 2022
The only other year in which they made it, the 2020 shortened season, resulted in a quick first-round exit with a sweep included.
The Padres, obviously, would love to avoid such a scenario this time around.
In a year in which they didn’t have the injured/suspended Fernando Tatis Jr. – the team’s best player when healthy – and the offense was somewhat inconsistent, the Padres were able to hold off other Wild Card competitors to secure their place in the postseason.
Pitching Is San Diego’s Calling Card
As long as Manny Machado, Juan Soto, Josh Bell, and Jake Cronenworth suit up, the offense will have a chance at scoring runs, but it’s evident that the unit carrying the team has been the pitching.
The Padres have four aces: Yu Darvish (3.10 ERA), Blake Snell (3.38 ERA), Joe Musgrove (3.03 ERA) and Mike Clevinger (4.33 ERA); a fifth starter with postseason experience in Sean Manaea, and an excellent bullpen headlined by Josh Hader.
The Padres currently own the fifth seed in the National League with an 87-72 record, but that could change depending on the results of the last series of the year.
They probably won’t be favored against anyone, but could give any team fits with that pitching staff, Machado, and Soto.
NEXT: Manny Machado Had A Wholesome Answer About The MVP
