Friday's lid-lifter between the traditional National League West power and the upstart Padres is the first game in what should be a compelling season series between the regional rivals
Contesting a National League West race against the Dodgers is like running a marathon against Kenyans. There’s a real chance you’ll eat dust.It bears repeating: thank you, Peter Seidler.Because Seidler decided to pump the payroll to third among Major League Baseball’s 30 teams rather than park it at a level commensurate with San Diego’s lower-tier media market, the Padres stand a fighting chance to hang with L.A.
Thank you, Peter — because with Manny Machado, Xander Bogaerts, Juan Soto, Yu Darvish, Josh Hader, Joe Musgrove and other highly paid stars wearing brown pinstripes, to say nothing of $340-million right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr.’s return, it’s finally possible the Padres won’t be out of breath come August.Importantly, despite repeated expansion of the postseason, the marathon still matters.
Winning the divisional series three games to one, the Padres advanced to the franchise’s first League Championship Series since 1998, but the math hasn’t changed. To reach the World Series, two fewer playoff victories are required of the top two division winners. Last we saw the Dodgers in San Diego, on a wet night in October, the lefty Hader was striking out their best hitters Mookie Betts, Trea Turner and Freddie Freeman.
The Padres hope to regain homegrown catcher Luis Campusano this month but otherwise have no homegrown players in their regular lineup or starting rotation. Or the back end of the bullpen. They did develop Tatis, who joined them at 17 in a trade with the White Sox.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Column: Dodgers are feeling good, but these aren't quite the good old daysYes, the Dodgers have won six in a row, but that doesn't mask the issues they have with their rotation, their bullpen and their defense.
Read more »
Rivalry renewed: Did last fall up the ante when Dodgers and Padres meet?The Dodgers head to San Diego this weekend and will face the Padres six times in the next 10 days, their first meetings since the Padres upset the Dodgers in the NLDS in October.
Read more »
Padres, Dodgers are both surging as they head into NLDS rematchThe Dodgers have won six in a row and the Padres have won nine of 13 heading into first series since Padres upset LA in last year's NLDS
Read more »
SEPTA to Offer Extra Service For Friday's Sixers and Phillies GamesFriday will be a big night for Philly sports with the Sixers taking on the Celtics in Game 3 of their 2nd round playoff series and the Phillies taking on the Red Sox. SEPTA is offering extra service to help fans get to the games. Details HERE:
Read more »
SEPTA to Offer Extra Service For Friday's Sixers and Phillies GamesFriday's a big night for Philadelphia sports, and SEPTA is already preparing to help fans make their way to South Philadelphia.
Read more »
Column: Aaron Rodgers' challenge exceeds Tom Brady's — by a lotJets are an OK team. Bucs were talented when Brady took them in to the 2020 season. Aaron Rodgers faces a huge challenge.
Read more »