ST. LOUIS -- It’s pretty difficult to get past Nolan Arenado if you’re a third baseman looking to win a Gold Glove Award in the National League, but Manny Machado at least could make things interesting in 2021.

Since his debut for the Colorado Rockies in 2013, Arenado has had a lock on the prestigious fielding award, winning it in each of his first eight big league seasons. One of the most imposing challengers in his career will be playing the same patch of dirt all weekend in a crucial series at Busch Stadium.

• The infielder who plays ... right field?

Machado leads NL third basemen in defensive runs saved this season with 7, one more than Arenado and Atlanta’s Austin Riley. Machado’s ultimate zone rating of 4.7 is two-tenths of a point behind Arenado for the NL’s best mark. Arenado has 8 outs above average to Machado’s 3.

While Machado might not have closed the gap with Arenado enough to unseat the incumbent, he should at least get some recognition from Major League managers and coaches who vote on the award.

“Of course, I think Manny should be in there, if not winning it,” Padres manager Jayce Tingler said. “Watching him on an everyday basis, him and Nolan are top of the list. Manny is one of the best catchers and throwers of the baseball there is.”

Tingler said Machado’s athletic ability as a former shortstop has allowed him to make an assortment of spectacular plays, particularly no-look throws, and that he has thrived in shifts, often playing in shallow right field when a left-handed batter with pull tendencies is hitting for the other team.

“In my opinion, Manny’s been the best infield defender I’ve seen, just the way he folds, the way he throws the ball, his baseball IQ and timing,” Tingler said. “Those two men are absolutely elite at third-base defense.”

The Cardinals acquired Arenado from the Rockies for pitcher Austin Gomber and four prospects in February in part to continue their push to become the best-fielding team in the Majors. They lead MLB with 78 defensive runs saved, a key factor for a team with a pitching staff that doesn’t strike out many batters. The Padres' defense as a whole is middle-of-the-pack with 20 defensive runs saved.

Myers’ role
Wil Myers hasn’t been in the Padres’ starting lineup since Tuesday, in part because of to his .216 batting average in September entering Friday and in part because of improved play from fellow corner outfielders Tommy Pham and Jurickson Profar, Tingler said.

“We won the last two games, and we’re going to stick with that crew right now,” Tingler said. “We’d like to keep it going.”