The Padres don’t look like underdogs against 103-win Brewers
The Padres face the league’s winningest team in the Division Series, but don’t call them underdogs. It seemed unlikely the Padres would ever make it this far. They closed out June with an eight-game losing streak and limped into the All-Star break with a .500 record. That’s something of a death sentence in the NL […]
San Diego's Padres, facing off against the league's winningest team, the Brewers, in the Division Series, don't look like underdogs at all. The Padres' turnaround this season has been nothing short of remarkable – they went from an eight-game losing streak in June to a 41-18 record in the final 10 weeks, the best in the majors. Their second-half performance was even better, with 21.9 wins above replacement (WAR), narrowly outpacing their opponents, including the Brewers.
The Padres' improved record isn't just a statistical anomaly. They posted a 119 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) in the second half, the highest of any team. The core of their offense has been led by Fernando Tatís Jr., who had a fantastic second half, slugging 24 home runs and posting a slash line of .303/.368/.549. Jackson Merrill also had a stellar season after a poor start, while Ty France, Manny Machado, and Samad Taylor have all contributed significantly.
The bullpen is also exceptional, led by Mason Miller and Adrian Morejon, making the Padres an intimidating lineup and formidable pitching staff.
Despite their impressive season, the Padres' starting pitching, while solid, isn't their strongest suit. The team relies on their bullpen to secure their victories, showing the depth and talent that has made the Padres such a surprise this season.
Written by urgent.news from SB Nation's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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