MLB Playoff Watch: Which contenders have the hardest road to October?
Taking into account their place in the standings and strength of schedule, which contenders face the toughest path to making the playoffs?SEPTEMBER 4, 2023
SAN DIEGO PADRES 93-69 · 2ND IN NL WEST
93-69 · 2ND IN NL WEST
Bogaerts leads Padres against the Phillies after 4-hit game
The San Diego Padres take on the Philadelphia Phillies after Xander Bogaerts' four-hit game on SundaySEPTEMBER 4, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Seth Lugo - Turns in scoreless outing Lugo (6-6) allowed three hits and a walk over six shutout innings Sunday, striking out four and earning a win over the Giants.
Impact Lugo tossed 55 of 89 pitches for strikes and never faced much of a threat in Sunday's win. Since being tagged with eight runs by the Dodgers on Aug. 7, he's been locked in. He's allowed two or fewer earned runs in five straight starts, posting a stellar 1.24 ERA and 27:6 K:BB during that span. Lugo will carry a 3.49 ERA into his next outing, which is currently projected in Houston.
SEPTEMBER 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Manny Machado - Homers in win Machado went 3-for-4 with a solo homer and two runs scored in Sunday's win over the Giants.
Impact Machado's solo shot in the fourth inning was his 26th long ball of the year. However, in his previous 30 appearances since the start of August, he went deep just five times while posting a .645 OPS. His disappointing season line now sits at .249/.313/.454 with 45 extra-base hits and 79 RBI through 527 plate appearances.
SEPTEMBER 4, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Padres vs. Phillies Prediction, Odds, Picks - September 4
Preview the September 4 matchup between the San Diego Padres and Philadelphia Phillies with odds over/under, game spread, betting lines and...SEPTEMBER 4, 2023 • DATA SKRIVE
Should the Padres trade Juan Soto this offseason if they don't reach an extension? If Soto won’t agree to a reasonable extension soon, why not explore salvaging some value in the wake of a lost season for the franchise?
SEPTEMBER 4, 2023 • THEATHLETIC.COM
Surging Padres are 'waiting for that miracle' SAN DIEGO -- While others are eager to turn out the lights on the Padres’ plans for a playoff party, the local nine have yet to wave a white...
SEPTEMBER 4, 2023 • MLB.COM
Padres win third straight game, take series from Giants SAN DIEGO — Sure.
SEPTEMBER 4, 2023 • CHARLOTTEOBSERVER.COM
Juan Soto homers in third straight game, Padres blank Giants Juan Soto homered in the first inning for a third straight game and right-hander Seth Lugo and three relievers blanked the visiting San Fran...
SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • DEADSPIN.COM
Juan Soto homers in 3rd straight game and the Padres beat the Giants a 3rd straight time, 4-0
Juan Soto homered for the third straight game and Manny Machado also connected for the San Diego Padres, who beat San Francisco 4-0 to win the final three games of a four-game seri...SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Matthew Batten - Garners fourth straight start Batten will start at third base and bat eighth in Sunday's game against the Giants.
Impact Batten appears to have moved into the near-everyday lineup spot that was created when Jake Cronenworth (wrist) landed on the injured list Aug. 26. In addition to making one start at Cronenworth's usual post at second base, Batten has now picked up a pair of starts at third base and one at first base over the Padres' last four games. Manny Machado has been seeing more time at designated hitter of late as a result of Batten's addition to the Friars' infield mix.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Drew Pomeranz - Rocked again in rehab outing Pomeranz (elbow) pitched two-thirds of an inning for Triple-A El Paso in a rehab appearance Friday, allowing four runs on four hits and one walk without notching any strikeouts.
Impact Pomeranz hasn't pitched in the majors since 2021, so some rustiness isn't unexpected. Still, the Padres may not want to activate him until he begins throwing more effectively -- in hist last two outings with El Paso, he's allowed six runs on five hits and three walks with just one punchout over 1.1 frames. It's not yet clear when San Diego plans to have Pomeranz rejoin the big-league club, though the veteran reliever has previously indicated a determination to pitch for the Padres before the end of the season.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Ethan Salas - Exits Saturday with knee issue Salas departed Double-A San Antonio's win over Wichita after three innings Saturday due to right knee irritation, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Impact Salas started behind the plate and went 0-for-1 before his departure. According to Sanders, Padres player development indicated that initial evaluation of Salas was "very positive" and has labeled the 17-year-old as day-to-day. Salas has struggled since being promoted to Double-A on Aug. 20, slashing .179/.303/.214 with no homers over 33 plate appearances, though he continues to display good patience with a 12.5 percent walk rate.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Gary Sánchez - Out of Sunday's lineup Sanchez is not in the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Impact Sanchez is in the midst of a five-game hit streak during which he's gone 6-for-17 with a double and two homers, but he finds himself on the bench for the second time in San Diego's past three games. Luis Campusano has also hit well with an .856 OPS this season and will work behind the plate Sunday.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Garrett Cooper - Not starting Sunday Cooper is out of the lineup for Sunday's game against the Giants, Jeff Sanders of The San Diego Union-Tribune reports.
Impact Cooper has been operating as San Diego's primary first baseman over the past couple weeks, and he's succeeded in the role with an .805 OPS in his last 11 games. Matt Carpenter will start at first and bat seventh for Sunday's series finale versus San Francisco.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Juan Soto - Goes deep again Saturday Soto went 1-for-4 with a solo home run and an additional run scored in a 6-1 win against the Giants on Saturday.
Impact Soto put the Padres on the board in the first inning, slamming a 415-foot solo shot to center field. The long ball was his second in as many days to begin September and his 27th overall on the campaign. Soto had a similarly hot start to August, going deep four times over his first three games, before tailing off with just one long ball and a .198 average over the remainder of the month. He'll look to avoid that trend as he tries to propel the Padres to a playoff push. San Diego is currently 6.5 games out of a wild-card spot with 25 regular-season contests remaining.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Giants' Alex Cobb turns page, focuses on Padres San Francisco Giants' right-hander Alex Cobb came within one out of throwing a no-hitter in his most recent outing.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • DEADSPIN.COM
Padres play the Giants leading series 2-1
The San Diego Padres lead 2-1 in a four-game series against the San Francisco GiantsSEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ASSOCIATED PRESS
Padres vs. Giants Prediction, Odds, Picks - September 3
Preview the September 3 matchup between the San Diego Padres and San Francisco Giants with odds over/under, game spread, betting lines and m...SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • DATA SKRIVE
Backed by firepower, Snell polishes Cy Young credentials SAN DIEGO -- Blake Snell’s left arm produced another gem as the Padres made a visit to Muscle Beach on Saturday. Snell (12-9) solidified his...
SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • MLB.COM
Gary Sánchez - Knocks homer Saturday Sanchez went 1-for-3 with a solo home run in Saturday's 6-1 win over the Giants.
Impact Sanchez has gone 6-for-17 (.353) with two homers and three RBI over his last five games. The veteran catcher is up to 19 long balls this season, putting him one away from his fifth 20-homer season. Through 72 contests, he's slashing .220/.288/.500 with 46 RBI, 33 runs scored and eight doubles. Down the stretch, Sanchez will likely split time behind the dish with Luis Campusano as the Padres try to get the younger catcher some more major-league experience.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Xander Bogaerts - Pops solo shot Bogaerts went 2-for-2 with a solo home run, a walk and an additional run scored in Saturday's 6-1 win over the Giants.
Impact Bogaerts is up to 16 homers this year, four of which have come in his last 13 contests. While he's shown a little more power lately, he's batting just .220 (11-for-50) over that span. The shortstop is at a .261/.332/.399 slash line with 46 RBI, 61 runs scored and 13 stolen bases through 131 games this season, putting him on track for his worst numbers since 2014, which was his first full major-league campaign.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Garrett Cooper - Blasts three-run homer Cooper went 1-for-3 with a three-run home run in Saturday's 6-1 win over the Giants.
Impact The Padres led from the first inning on, with Cooper's blast in the sixth solidifying their advantage. The first baseman started off a bit slow with San Diego, but he's gone 14-for-41 (.341) with a homer and seven RBI over his last 11 contests. He's picked up playing time since Jake Cronenworth (wrist) went on the injured list. Cooper is a lock to be in the lineup versus southpaws, but he's also gained a starting role against right-handers over the last week.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Blake Snell - Throws six scoreless innings Snell (12-9) allowed three hits and four walks while striking out eight over six scoreless innings to earn the win over the Giants on Saturday.
Impact Snell has walked multiple batters in 13 straight starts, but he hasn't given up more than three runs in any of them. In eight of those starts, he's walked four or more batters. The southpaw's 5.2 BB/9 is tied for the worst of his career with his rookie season, but he's somehow managed to be effective anyway with a major-league best 2.50 ERA. He's also at 201 strikeouts through 155 innings, which makes this Snell's second 200-strikeout campaign. He's projected to make his next start in Houston.
SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • ROTOWIRE
Harrison stung by long ball in gritty start vs. Padres SAN DIEGO -- Not even the best Major League pitcher can have electric stuff in every outing. It’s the ones who learn to live off the grid, s...
SEPTEMBER 3, 2023 • MLB.COM
