SAN DIEGO -- The Padres rallied for a 5-4 victory over Toronto in their first-half finale on Sunday, and they’ll enter the All-Star break sitting squarely at .500. They’re 48-48.
Here’s some instant reaction from Petco Park:
Two crucial victories this weekend
It wasn’t the first half the Padres envisioned. They spent much of the first couple months squarely in the playoff picture, but faltered over the past few weeks, including an eight-game losing streak that marked their longest since 2013.
But things sure feel a whole lot better after the Padres' two victories over the reigning American League champs this weekend.
Coupled with a pair of Marlins losses, the Padres have narrowed their gap to the final National League Wild Card spot from 5 1/2 games to 3 1/2. It comes at an important juncture of their season, too, with the Trade Deadline looming three weeks away.
Machado’s strong first-half finish
It was a rough first half for Manny Machado. He spent a sizable chunk of the past 3 1/2 months with an OPS around .600 and, quite literally, the worst batting average in baseball. (Among qualifying hitters, at least.)
But the way Machado finished the first half, you’d expect him to look more like himself in the second half. He went 8-for-16 across the final four games, including 3-for-4 on Sunday afternoon. With his sixth-inning single, Machado raised his batting average above .200 for the first time since the start of play May 8.
Then, in the eighth, Machado tied the game with an RBI single to center. San Diego would take the lead two batters later on Ty France’s sacrifice fly.
The Padres need Machado hitting. Simple as that. Power-wise, he remained somewhat productive with 19 first-half homers. But they need more than what he’s given them overall. And it looks like they might get it.
This bullpen could use the break
A bullpen can only withstand so many injuries and sub-five-inning starts. And lately, this Padres bullpen has been tested. It had to cover five innings on Sunday, after Germán Márquez lasted only four.
The Padres need two things in the second half to help limit the burden on their bullpen:
- They need Jason Adam, Jeremiah Estrada and David Morgan back from injury as soon as possible. And …
- They need more -- so much more -- from their starting pitchers. Since June 4, Michael King is the only starting pitcher to complete six innings. (He’s done so five times.)