The Los Angeles Dodgers have strung together a 14-5 record so far in September, finally shaking off that usual late summer lull. It looks good on paper, right? But before anyone crowns them, they’ve got one serious gut check coming up, starting Tuesday. They’ve been feasting on a pretty soft schedule this month, racking up wins against below .500 teams like the Washington Nationals, Cincinnati Reds, and San Francisco Giants. Now comes the real test: the San Diego Padres.
The Padres Are Bringing The Heat To L.A.
The Padres aren’t just good, they’re on an absolute tear, winning 13 of their last 14 games. Talk about red hot! They need just two more wins to snatch a wildcard playoff spot, and for a franchise that has *never* made the playoffs three seasons in a row, you know they’re hungry. Fernando Tatis Jr. is feeling it, telling the San Diego Union-Tribune that the “whole team is in a good spot right now,” playing “really good baseball.” He said the “entire lineup is in a good spot,” making it “a good time” for them. Meanwhile, the Dodgers are sitting on a magic number of three to lock up the second bye in the playoffs, which is huge for setting up their rotation just right. Manager Dave Roberts knows exactly what this series means, calling it a “good kind of primer” for the postseason. He acknowledges the Padres are “a very talented team” playing “as good as anyone in all of baseball,” and he’s looking forward to “ramping it up a little bit more for our guys.” Plus, Andy Pages is set to come off the IL on Tuesday, hopefully bringing some fresh offensive firepower.
Can Edwin Diaz Get Back On The Trust Tree?
While the team’s form against real contenders is a big question mark, there’s another looming issue: Edwin Diaz. His status for the postseason roster is still up in the air, even after his return from the IL on Friday. Diaz has put up two scoreless outings since coming back, which is exactly what you want to see. But is that enough to earn back Dave Roberts’ full confidence? Diaz himself admitted his season has been “really disappointing.” He did have surgery for bone chips in his elbow earlier this year and was supposed to come back ready for high-leverage situations. He wasn’t. Now, he feels he’s “found growth to come back and perform the way everyone was expecting.” The team kept him positive, telling him he has “a new elbow, so just keep going, keep climbing the ladder.” They told him, “You will be fine. We trust you.” The question is, is *now* the time he truly is fine?
The Dodgers start their crucial series against the white-hot Padres on Tuesday. This isn’t just about securing that playoff bye, it’s about proving they can hang with the best when it counts. Keep an eye on Diaz, too. Can he truly be the dominant closer they need? This series is going to tell us everything.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by True Blue LA.
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