As expected, the Padres are heading into the postseason away from home, starting in Chicago. “Road warriors,” Ryan O’Hearn declared. “We’re going to Chicago to win.”
The team faces challenges, including a new backup catcher and a shaky pitching strategy. However, they’re ready for the task ahead.
In a twist of fate, the Cubs struggled recently, losing six of their last seven games. This created a brief hope of playing at Petco Park. But that hope faded quickly. Gavin Sheets said, “I had in my head that we were going to Wrigley.”
After the Cubs beat the Cardinals, the Padres needed a sweep against the Diamondbacks and for the Cubs to lose twice. They managed a victory, but with the Cubs winning again, their aspirations for home-field advantage disappeared.
“Now it’s all set in stone,” Sheets confirmed. The Padres clinched a 5-1 win against the Diamondbacks, highlighted by three home runs in just two innings. Yet, there was a setback: catcher Elías Díaz injured his side after a swing, leaving his participation in the wild-card series uncertain. “I’m fine,” he assured later, “I hope to play.”
Díaz contributed to the win, hitting a home run that followed big blasts from Fernando Tatis Jr. and Xander Bogaerts.
Looking at pitching, Michael King had a mixed outing, retiring the side in order in the second inning but struggling earlier. With the Cubs series on the horizon, the Padres haven’t finalized their pitching lineup yet, but Nick Pivetta is likely to start Game 1. Depending on King’s performance, he might shift to the bullpen or even start if needed.
Manager Mike Shildt and the coaching staff are busy preparing. They’ve analyzed the Cubs thoroughly, making strategic plans for the series.
As the regular season wraps up with hopes of a 90-win finish, the atmosphere in the clubhouse buzzes with excitement. Veteran players are discussing how to distribute playoff shares, further amplifying the postseason spirit.
With recent statistics showing that only 29% of MLB teams make it past the wild-card round, the Padres will need to stay sharp. As Shildt said, “We’ve spent a lot of time getting prepared and ready to go.”
The countdown to the wild-card series is on, and the Padres are primed for battle. For more insights on postseason dynamics, you can visit MLB’s official site.
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