On the outset of play on July 4, the San Diego Padres have been coming off a 2-4 journey by means of Cincinnati and Philadelphia and trailed the Los Angeles Dodgers by 9 video games within the Nationwide League West.
On Friday evening, the Padres and Dodgers open a three-game sequence at Los Angeles with San Diego atop the division.
The Padres accomplished a three-game sweep of the host San Francisco Giants on Wednesday with an 11-1 romp that prolonged their successful streak to 5 video games. The Padres (69-52) even have gained 5 straight sequence and are 23-12 since Independence Day.
The Dodgers (68-53) misplaced 6-5 to the Los Angeles Angels. The reigning World Sequence champions have dropped 4 in a row.
“We have performed a number of actually good baseball,” Padres supervisor Mike Shildt stated. “Pitching’s been good, protection, baserunning. I have been actually happy the final week or so concerning the offense dictating the sport.”
San Diego took management Wednesday with a seven-run second inning. Fernando Tatis Jr. contributed a two-run single.
“We’re going on the market assured each single day, enjoying good baseball, clear baseball — and that is what we’re able to doing,” stated Tatis, who had two hits, two walks and drove in three runs.
The Padres and Dodgers have met within the NL Division Sequence thrice up to now 5 seasons, with LA successful in 2020 and ’24 and San Diego prevailing in ’22. Contemplating that historical past, Tatis stated it is arduous to overstate the significance of this weekend’s sequence, even when it is just mid-August.
“It is big. That is what we’re enjoying for,” Tatis stated. “It is in our arms, how a lot we would like it.”
Barely greater than a month in the past, the Padres weren’t notably involved with the division race.
“We performed some dangerous baseball round that point, so we weren’t actually trying up at that time,” third baseman Manny Machado stated. “We have been simply making an attempt to get again within the win column.”
The Padres revamped their roster on the commerce deadline, including — most notably — outfielder Ramón Laureano and All-Star designated hitter Ryan O’Hearn from the Orioles, catcher Freddy Fermin from the Royals, left-hander Nestor Cortes from the Brewers and reliever Mason Miller from the Athletics.
“Each participant that has are available in has contributed in a very massive (manner). They are a actually massive a part of this group,” Tatis stated.
Laureano went 3 for 4 with a two-run homer Wednesday. He has gone 15 for 45 (.333) with San Diego. Fermin is 11 for 31 (.355) with the Padres.
And this weekend, the Padres — new and outdated — tackle their Southern California rivals with first place within the NL West at stake.
“Clearly, it is a sequence persons are going to be listening to,” Shildt stated, “and we’re simply going to play good, clear, basic Padre baseball.”
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