by The Padres were a respectable 52-44 a month ago, with two weeks until the trade deadline, but they were still six games behind the Dodgers for the National League West lead.
San Diego jumped to the top of the division two weeks after the deadline, right before the commencement of the much awaited three-game series at Los Angeles.
Better yet? San Diego just overtook the Dodgers to take a one-game lead in the NL West, but the Dodgers are faltering.
According to manager Mike Shildt, it’s the series that people will be watching.
For both sides, the coming week is crucial.
There is a lot riding on the outcome of the series, which begins Friday at Dodger Stadium and continues with three games between the teams at Petco Park the following weekend. For the rest of the season, the teams don’t play each other again.
The game takes place while San Diego is experiencing a surge in popularity. The Padres have won eight of their last ten games, including a three-game sweep over the Giants, another division foe. They have also won five in a row. The Angels’ series sweep of the Dodgers on Wednesday cleared their path to first place with an 11-1 loss to end the series.
After the victory, Shildt remarked, “The offense is really taking over the game, dictating, and setting the tone.”
Are the Dodgers or Padres the more complete NL West team?rBU8oIvLSU pic.twitter.com/
Since August 1, the day after the trade deadline, the Padres have won nine of their last twelve games. Additionally, the squad is 17-8 since the All-Star break.
Prior to this weekend’s series, the Dodgers had already dropped four straight games and six of their previous ten. L.A. is currently 68-53 overall, barely behind the Padres at 69-52, and has a 10-14 record since the All-Star break.
Pitching staff injuries are a contributing factor in LA’s downfall. Additionally, a lot of San Diego’s success may be ascribed to the trades that general manager A.J. Preller made before the July 31 deadline.
San Diego went on a rampage, adding eight players, including right-handed pitcher Mason Miller, outfielder Ram iro Laureano, catcher Freddy Fermin, and left-handed starter Nestor Corts.
The Friar farm system is currently rated last in the majors as a result of Preller sending 14 players away in exchange, depleting the Padres’ prospect pool. However, he did include two veterans: outfielder Brandon Lockridge and pitcher Stephen Kolek.
Preller has been involved in the yearly trade deadline on a regular basis during his 11 years as general manager of the Padres. His moves always create a big impression, even though they don’t always work out.
For instance, he acquired outfielder Brandon Lockridge and pitchers Jason Adam, Bryan Hoeing, Mart n Prez, and Tanner Scott during the trade deadline last year. Hoeing and Adam are the only remaining members of the squad.
Although he is one of the Dodgers’ several pitchers on the injured list, Scott did in fact sign a four-year, $72 million contract with the team in January.
The team’s post-deadline hot streak this season is proof that Preller’s decisions have paid off. MLB claims that the Padres haven’t led the division this late in a season in fifteen years—that is, since September 25, 2010.
But here s a hiccup: Michael King is hurt.
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King was supposed to start the Dodgers’ series opener on Friday, while experienced lefty Clayton Kershaw was selected. However, the Padres declared Thursday afternoon that King had been placed on a 15-day injured list due to tendinitis in his left knee.
To replace him, they summoned up Randy V. Squez from Triple-A El Paso, but the starting for Friday is still listed as TBD.
On Saturday and Sunday, Dylan Cease and former Dodger Yu Darvish will face former Padre Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow, respectively.
Following this weekend’s series, the Padres will host the Giants and Dodgers at Petco for a seven-game home stand against the same divisional foes as this week.
The schedule for the Padres-Dodgers series:
- 7:10 p.m., Friday
- 6:10 pm, Saturday
- 1:10 pm, Sunday
The Padres television network, PADRES.TV, will broadcast every game. Additionally, San Diego’s CBS station, KFMB-TV channel 8, will show the second game. Radio stations XEMO 860 and KWFN 97.3 will broadcast the games.
