SAN DIEGO -- In April, the Padres and Diamondbacks split two games in Mexico City. They split four in San Diego in July, then four more in Arizona in August.
At the end of that early-August showdown, Padres manager Craig Stammen made an astute observation:
“We've played these guys pretty even all year,” he said. “We'll see them again later in the year in a three-game series. Could be the decider of it all.”
Well, with the Padres clinching a postseason berth Thursday night, the Diamondbacks-Padres three-game series that opens at Petco Park on Friday night won’t decide it all, but it will still determine a lot.
The Diamondbacks have the most riding on the series. They enter it trailing the Phillies by two games for the final NL Wild Card spot. Philadelphia plays host to the Rays over the weekend and any combination of wins by the Phillies or losses by the Diamondbacks that equal two means Arizona is out.
The Diamondbacks enter the series on a roll, having won five straight games -- including a sweep of the Rockies at Coors Field. The music was loud in the clubhouse after Thursday’s win, and Arizona feels it’s got momentum on its side.
Thursday night, the Diamondbacks-Padres three-game series that opens at Petco Park on Friday night won’t decide it all, but it will still determine a lot.
The Diamondbacks have the most riding on the series. They enter it trailing the Phillies by two games for the final NL Wild Card spot. Philadelphia plays host to the Rays over the weekend and any combination of wins by the Phillies or losses by the Diamondbacks that equal two means Arizona is out.
The Diamondbacks enter the series on a roll having won five straight games including a sweep of the Rockies at Coors Field. The music was loud in the clubhouse after Thursday’s win and Arizona feels it’s got momentum on its side.
“These boys are having fun,” Diamondbacks manager Torey Lovullo said after the game. “Winning is fun. That's the main thing. When you win, you have fun. When you execute and do your job, it's a lot of fun, and I want them to feel very spirited. But at the end of the day, tonight when we get on that plane and start gearing up towards San Diego, we got to turn the page and do the same thing tomorrow.”
What’s at stake?
Diamondbacks: For the Diamondbacks, the formula is simple but not easy: win them all and hope the Phillies lose two of three to the Rays. Or take two of three from the Padres and hope the Phillies get swept by Tampa Bay.
Padres: They may already be in, but they’re after more than that. The Padres are 49-29 at Petco Park. They enter the weekend with a chance to secure home-field advantage for a Wild Card Series, so they will be doing their absolute best.
How are the rotations lined up?
Diamondbacks: Brandon Pfaadt, Corbin Burnes and Michael Soroka are lined up to pitch, but Lovullo has been managing games over the past week as though they were postseason games, meaning as soon as a starter gets in a little bit of trouble he goes to the bullpen, so don’t look for any deep starts from an Arizona pitcher this weekend.
Padres: Walker Buehler and Casey Mize will pitch in the first two games, though perhaps not in that order. Buehler could start Saturday and still be available to start the third and final game of a Wild Card Series. (Mize, presumably wouldn’t factor in that series, at least not as a starter.) Because they’ve already clinched, the Padres will not start Michael King on Sunday and instead will save him to start Game 1 of the Wild Card Series.
What’s been going well for each team lately?
Diamondbacks: Unlike in year’s past, the bullpen has been rock solid for them. Since Paul Sewald was removed from the closer’s role and designated for assignment, the Diamondbacks have gone with a closer by committee based on matchups. It’s a deep group of backend relievers in lefty Brandyn Garcia and right-handers Kevin Ginkel, Jonathan Loaisiga, Juan Morillo and Justin Martinez. In addition the bridge relievers have also been outstanding led by Taylor Clarke and Dennis Santana.
Padres: Their bullpen has been lights-out for just about the entire season. Their offense? Well, for much of the first half, it was the worst offense in baseball. But since the start of September, it’s been legitimately the Majors’ best. Fernando Tatis Jr. is mashing. Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill are doing their part. Ty France looks like the signing of the season -- not to mention the contributions the Padres have gotten from role players like Dustin Harris and Samad Taylor.
What are some areas of concern for each team?
Diamondbacks: Burnes is coming off Tommy John surgery and is still trying to find his way with his command, so he will be on a short leash. The Diamondbacks offense has been streaky this year. When they get rolling, they can put up some crooked numbers in a hurry, but they’ve also gone through stretches where hitting with runners in scoring position has been a real problem.
Padres: The San Diego rotation is in the best shape it’s been in all season. And yet, there are still numerous question marks. Buehler has been excellent lately, but he was rocked by the D-backs in July, the last time he faced them at Petco Park. Mize starts Saturday, and his Padres’tenure has thus far been a dud.