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The San Diego Padres can now reach the postseason after missing the playoffs last year.
A dramatic 4-2 win over NL West rival Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday sealed the Padres’ postseason fate and the playoff situation is becoming clearer.
The game ended with Miguel Rojas hitting a triple play after the first two batters reached base in the ninth inning.
San Diego is the fourth team to secure a playoff spot in the National League. The Dodgers, Milwaukee Brewers and Philadelphia Phillies are joined by two other teams, the New York Yankees and Cleveland Guardians, who have secured a spot in the American League. The Brewers have also already secured the NL Central.
As the regular season draws to a close, here’s a look at the updated playoff standings and potential pairings for Saturday’s games.
Expected matches in the American League playoffs
- First round bye: No. 1 New York Yankees, No. 2 Cleveland Guardians
- Wild Card Series: No. 3 Houston Astros vs. No. 6 Kansas City Royals, No. 4 Baltimore Orioles vs. No. 5 Detroit Tigers
Expected playoff games of the National League
- First round bye: No. 1 Los Angeles Dodgers, No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies
- Wild Card Series: No. 3 Milwaukee Brewers vs. No. 6 Arizona Diamondbacks, No. 4 San Diego Padres vs. No. 5 New York Mets
- New York Yankees (92-65)*
- Baltimore Orioles (87-70, 5GB)*
- Boston Red Sox (80-78, 12.5GB)
- Tampa Bay Rays (78-79, 14GB)
- Toronto Blue Jays (73-85, 19.5GB)
- Cleveland Guardians (91-67)**
- Detroit Tigers (83-74, 7.5GB)
- Kansas City Royals (83-74, 7.5GB)
- Minnesota Twins (81-76, 9.5GB)
- Chicago White Sox (37-120, 53.5GB)
- Houston Astros (86-72)**
- Seattle Mariners (81-77, 5GB)
- Texas Rangers (74-83, 11.5GB)
- Oakland Athletics (68-89, 17.5 GB)
- Los Angeles Angels (63-94, 22.5GB)
- Baltimore Orioles (87-70, +4 games)*
- Detroit Tigers (83-74)
- Kansas City Royals (83-74)
- Minnesota Twins (81-76, 2GB)
- Seattle Mariners (81-77, 2.5GB)
- Boston Red Sox (80-78, 3.5GB)
- Tampa Bay Rays (78-79, 5GB)
- Philadelphia Phillies (93-65)**
- New York Mets (87-70, 5.5 GB)
- Atlanta Braves (86-71, 6.5GB)
- Washington Nationals (69-88, 23.5GB)
- Miami Marlins (58-99, 34.5GB)
- Milwaukee Brewers (90-67)**
- Chicago Cubs (81-77, 9.5GB)
- St. Louis Cardinals (80-77, 10GB)
- Cincinnati Reds, (76-82, 14.5GB)
- Pittsburgh Pirates (73-84, 17GB)
- Los Angeles Dodgers (93-64)*
- San Diego Padres (91-66, 2GB)*
- Arizona Diamondbacks (87-71, 6.5GB)
- San Francisco Giants (79-79, 14.5GB)
- Colorado Rockies (60-97, 33GB)
- San Diego Padres (91-66, +4.5 games)*
- New York Mets (87-70, +0.5 games)
- Arizona Diamondbacks (87-71)
- Atlanta Braves (86-71, 0.5GB)
*Indicates a secured playoff spot
**Denotes the final division
The Padres’ chances of making the playoffs were uncertain in the first half of the season, but San Diego posted the best record in baseball since the All-Star break and has a good chance of making the playoffs after missing the playoffs last year.
The Padres’ acquisition of Luis Arreaz from the Miami Marlins in May gave them an offensive boost. He leads the team with a .323 batting average and has also collected 38 RBIs since arriving in San Diego.
Fernando Tatis Jr. missed much of the regular season but returned in September to help the Padres make a late run into the postseason. His return to the lineup will be crucial in the playoffs.
But if the current standings hold, it could be a tough wildcard matchup for the Padres. The Arizona Diamondbacks have been hot on the Padres’ heels all season and will be looking to defend their title as National League champions with a strong start to the postseason.
The Diamondbacks didn’t exactly look like a team capable of competing for the World Series this season, but the same could be said about Arizona’s team last year.
The Los Angeles Dodgers looked like the best team in the National League, thanks in large part to Shohei Ohtani’s historic season, but the Padres have edged closer to them in the NL West, just two games behind, with two more head-to-head matches on Wednesday and Thursday at Dodger Stadium.
San Diego has already won the decisive head-to-head victory over the Dodgers with an 8-3 record in 11 meetings, so if the two teams finish the regular season with the same record, the Padres will be division champions for the first time since 2006.
