Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 13
Padres Claim No. 2 NL Wild Card After Winning 15 of 19
Updated
Updated · The New York Times · Aug 13

Padres Claim No. 2 NL Wild Card After Winning 15 of 19

3 articles · Updated · The New York Times · Aug 13

Summary

  • San Diego climbed into the second NL wild-card spot after winning 15 of its last 19 games, a surge that carried it past six teams in the crowded race.
  • The push peaked with an 11-inning walk-off win that completed a sweep of Milwaukee, which entered the series with the best record in baseball.
  • Since July 24, the Padres have leapfrogged the Nationals, Cardinals, Marlins, Pirates, Diamondbacks and Phillies to move from outside the bracket back into playoff position.
  • Their month-by-month record still points to volatility—1-4 in March, 18-7 in April, 11-15 in June and 9-3 so far in August—suggesting the club is resurgent but not yet a playoff lock.

Insights

Will Buster Posey's aggressive but flawed roster experiments ultimately destroy his untouchable legacy in San Francisco?
Are the Giants' front-office blunders proving that star athletes rarely make successful franchise saviors in the modern era?