Padres Join Wild-Card Tie
Padres Defeat Marlins to Join Three-Way National League Wild-Card Tie
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Key Points
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The Padres’ 3.93 staff ERA ranks fourth in the National League, while Miami’s hitters have a .327 on-base percentage, sixth-best in the majors.
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Ty France’s three-run homer was his 21st of the season, establishing a new career high.
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The Padres’ September offense leads the majors with an .841 OPS, and Fernando Tatis Jr. has paced the club during the month with six home runs and a 1.078 OPS.
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FanGraphs had increased San Diego’s playoff odds to 89.1% after the Padres’ strong September run.
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The wild-card format calls for the Nos. 4 and 5 seeds to meet in a best-of-three series from Sept. 29 through Oct. 1, while the No. 6 seed would face the No. 3 seed, currently Atlanta, in the opening round.
The San Diego Padres routed the Miami Marlins 8-2 on Friday at Petco Park, climbing into a three-way tie for the National League wild-card with the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies. San Diego improved to 85-69 and has won nine of its last 10 games, putting the team at 89.1% playoff odds FanGraphs. The Padres hold the No. 6 seed due to losing the season series to both Chicago and Philadelphia.
Miami fell to 76-78 and now sits eight games back in the wild-card race. The Marlins' pitching staff has been a liability, posting a 5.65 ERA in September while the Padres' hitters lead the majors with an .841 OPS this month FanDuel.
Padres' Dominant Offensive Showing Fueled by France Homer
Nick Pivetta allowed just one run over five innings as San Diego's bats came alive in the later frames. Ty France hit a three-run homer—his 21st of the season and a new career high—while Fernando Tatis Jr. and Dustin Harris added RBI hits. The Padres poured seven runs across the final four innings to put the game out of reach FanDuel.
Tatis Jr. Leads September Surge With Elite Performance
Fernando Tatis Jr. has been the Padres' offensive engine this month, posting six home runs and a 1.078 OPS FanDuel. San Diego's offense has been historically dominant in September, ranking first in the majors. The combination of elite pitching—the Padres' staff ERA ranks fourth in the National League—and hot hitting has pushed the team to nine wins in its last 10 games.
Marlins' Playoff Path Narrowing Quickly
Miami has an elimination number of two, meaning the Marlins must win nearly every remaining game to stay alive. The Marlins' pitching has been a serious problem, surrendering runs at an alarming rate in September FanDuel. Miami's hitters have provided some hope, posting a .327 on-base percentage that ranks sixth in baseball, but it may not be enough to overcome the gap.
Wild-Card Format Sets Stage for Intense Final Stretch
The Padres clinch the playoffs if they win four more games. As the No. 6 seed, San Diego would face the No. 3 seed—currently Atlanta—in the opening round. The Nos. 4 and 5 seeds will play a best-of-three series from September 29 through October 1 FanDuel, making every remaining game crucial for teams fighting for position.
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