With the exception of the New York Mets, the San Diego Padres have been the most disappointing team in baseball in 2024. It wasn’t that long ago that they were even considered dead and buried.
But now they find themselves four short matches away from last place giving the right to a place in the fall dance.
What makes this possible is the fact that the Californian team has just won its last seven games. An improbable last minute push.
Add to that that the Padres will face the St. Louis Cardinals, the San Francisco Giants and the Chicago White Sox in their last nine meetings and you have the perfect cocktail for a spectacular comeback.
The Giants will certainly be the toughest opponent for San Diago, but perhaps less than expected, since the latter have been experiencing all kinds of difficulties lately, especially on the road.
The question that remains is whether San Diego will have enough time to complete the unthinkable.
The problem for the Padres is that the Chicago Cubs, who occupy the final playoff spot, aren’t the only team they have to worry about. The Miami Marlins, Cincinnati Reds and Giants are still ahead of them, which doesn’t make it any easier.
The good news is that these opponents have a much tougher schedule than the Padres.
One thing is certain, San Diego must win their last three series with probably a sweep or two along the way if they want to hope to shock the baseball world.
We bet that Manny Machado will postpone his possible elbow surgery for a few days to participate in this crazy race. It’s time for him to stand up and act as a true leader of this club.
