SAN DIEGO -- When Manny Machado signed his record-setting 10-year contract with the Padres in 2019, he envisioned postseason baseball in San Diego, and it came soon enough.

Just not the way he expected.

Machado has been a catalyst for the first Padres playoff team in 14 years, and on Thursday afternoon -- ahead of Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series against the Cardinals -- Machado was asked how much he wished the fans in San Diego could see this team in person.

"You have no idea how bad," Machado said, ruefully. "You have no idea. They've been waiting for it so long. I had a couple guys tell me when they're on third base, telling me, 'This city would be rowdy if the fans were able to be in the stands.' I've seen this stadium packed before and how loud it can get. For them to see San Diego Padres in the postseason -- with them in here -- it would've been incredible. "

The Padres are coming off the most successful regular season in franchise history, by winning percentage. With a young roster playing an electric brand of baseball, they quickly became darlings of the sport on a national stage.

And yet, the Padres fans who have waited so long for a team like this have been kept out of Petco Park due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

To that end, Machado made a vow on Thursday:

"When everything gets settled down and gets better, we're definitely going to give them a better show," he said.

Strahm bounces back
Left-hander Matt Strahm landed tenderly on his right knee after throwing a pitch on Wednesday afternoon. He remained in the game, pitching through some obvious discomfort.

Strahm spent 10 days on the injured list in September as he battled right-knee inflammation. But manager Jayce Tingler said Strahm has made progress and would be available for Thursday's Game 2.

"He's doing better than when he left the ballpark yesterday," said Tingler. "Matt's been pitching through pain, and he goes, 'Look I'll be ready.'"

In 19 appearances this season, Strahm owns a 2.61 ERA and a 0.87 WHIP

Worth noting
• Padres first baseman Eric Hosmer waxed poetic about the impact longtime Royals outfielder Alex Gordon made on his career. Gordon, who retired after Sunday's regular-season finale, spent 14 seasons in Kansas City and was Hosmer's teammate on two pennant winners and the 2015 World Series champion team.

"Coming up to the big leagues and having him to look up to was extremely huge for me," Hosmer said. "He taught me so much, even just by watching him, watching his day-to-day, watching him go about his business. I'm so lucky to have a guy like him to look up to. It was emotional. I knew this day would come at some point. But watching his last game, watching the respect the league had for him ... it was pretty emotional watching him come off the field."

• Major League Baseball announced a scoring change from Wednesday's Game 1, revoking an error charged to Cardinals third baseman Tommy Edman, who dropped Yadier Molina's throw while trying to tag Tommy Pham on a stolen base attempt. The decision gives Pham his second career postseason steal and trail runner Jake Cronenworth his first.