The San Diego Padres are clinging to the final playoff spot by just one game, with only 28 games left in the 2026 MLB regular season. After nine intense games from August 17-26, the Friars posted a 5-4 record, battling through an offense that just can’t find its rhythm.
Padres Starters and Bullpen Are Carrying This Team
Seriously, the pitching has been incredible lately. We’re talking about a starting rotation that was straight-up unreliable before the trade deadline, now suddenly a major strength over the past two weeks. Out of those last nine games, these guys racked up six quality starts. Even with a Casey Mize ankle scare, he’s good to go for his next start against Tampa Bay. And Robbie Ray, the other trade deadline acquisition? Yeah, he walks batters a lot, like 13 in 20.1 innings for the Padres, but the dude has figured out how to pitch around that traffic. He even had a quality start against the New York Mets, which was their only win in New York. The best part? Since July 24, these Padres are 22-9. That’s the best record in all of MLB over that stretch! Plus, their bullpen has been lights-out with season-long excellence, taking so much pressure off the offense.
The Offense? That’s the Real Problem
But let’s be real, the inconsistency from the offense is the only thing we can count on. They’ve had insane highs and depressing lows. This team will only go as far as those bats take them, and right now, against good pitching, it’s a huge red flag. According to Kevin Acee, the Padres offense is a brutal 7-16 against starting pitchers with an ERA of 3.50 or better who’ve thrown at least 100 innings. And get this: in those games, Padres hitters have allowed an ERA of 2.10 to opposing pitchers. What even is that? You saw it in the recent Pittsburgh Pirates series. The Padres faced Pittsburgh’s three best starters and scored a grand total of five runs in 27 innings. Their own pitching staff allowed only four runs, yet they still lost two of the three games. That’s just wild.
What’s Next For These Friars?
With only 28 games left, the Padres need to play to an 18-10 record just to hit 90 wins again. That means winning two out of every three games for the rest of the season. They’re two games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for that second Wild Card spot, and they’ve got the Arizona Diamondbacks breathing down their neck, only one game back for that final spot. Casey Mize making his next start tomorrow against Tampa Bay is huge, but if this team gets to the postseason, they’re going to see the best pitchers in baseball. Can this offense finally step up when it matters most?
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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