Alright, so Albert Pujols, the legend himself, made his World Series pick, and man, is it looking rough right now. He had the San Diego Padres taking it all, but they’re already staring down a brutal 2-0 hole in their Division Series after two absolutely shocking losses. You hate to see a legend’s pick go sideways so fast, especially when it felt like the Padres had all the momentum.
Pujols Bet Big on San Diego’s Red-Hot Finish
Pujols threw his weight behind the Padres ahead of the Division Series, telling Bleacher Report they were “playing the best baseball coming in for the last two or three weeks.” He even said they reminded him of his own 2011 Cardinals team, a wild-card squad that ran the table. And honestly, it made total sense! The Padres caught fire down the stretch, ripping off a ridiculous 17-3 record in their final 20 regular-season games to snatch that No. 4 seed in the National League. They even snagged home-field advantage for the Wild Card Series against the Chicago Cubs and just *walked* through them with two easy wins, outscoring them 12-1.
Pujols clearly saw something special there, a true “championship formula.” He pointed to an offense loaded with guys like Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, Ty France, and Jackson Merrill. Then you had that shutdown bullpen featuring Mason Miller, Adrian Morejon, and Bradgley Rodriguez, ready to shorten games. “I think this is their year,” he declared, adding that they started “playing playoff baseball in the last three weeks to get into the postseason.” He figured when you’re hot like that, sometimes you “just run through all the way,” especially with Machado and Tatis Jr. swinging “hot bats” and inspiring everyone in the lineup.
The Brewers Missed the Memo, And It’s Getting Ugly
Well, apparently, the Milwaukee Brewers didn’t get that memo, because they’ve thrown a wrench into everything. They defeated the Padres in *shocking* fashion in both of the first two games of their Division Series. Game 1 was a gut punch: Ty France hit a towering fly ball to left with a man on base that looked like it might clear the fence and give San Diego the lead in the ninth. Nope. It hit the roof and fell harmlessly into Jackson Chourio’s glove for an out. Then, in Game 2, Miller, who was supposed to be part of that shutdown bullpen, gave up two runs in the bottom of the ninth, sealing another stunning loss. Just like that, Pujols’ pick is in a 2-0 hole, and the Padres have to turn things around at home.
Pujols, of course, knows a thing or two about postseason baseball, explaining that the “postseason is about who is riding hot.” He’d know better than most, right? The dude is an all-time great with two World Series titles, three league MVPs, a Rookie of the Year, six Silver Sluggers, two Gold Gloves, a batting title, and 11 All-Star nods. He even led the league in home runs twice. His 703 career dingers rank fourth all-time, and only Hank Aaron has more RBI than Pujols’ 2,218. Those 2006 and 2011 World Series titles with the Cardinals are what stand out the most to him. “This is what it’s all about, playing for the postseason and to win a championship,” he said, adding there’s “nothing better than being able to raise the championship trophy at the end of the season. That’s what you play for.”
The Padres are staring at elimination, and they’ve got to find that heat Pujols talked about, starting Tuesday at home. It’s now or never.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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