The San Diego Padres have cemented themselves as probably the most harmful group remaining within the postseason.
On Tuesday, a six-run second-inning scoring outburst propelled San Diego to a 6-5 dwelling win over the Los Angeles Dodgers, giving the group a 2-1 lead within the Nationwide League Division Collection. The Padres weren’t essentially anticipated to make a lot noise this season after lacking the playoffs final 12 months, however a win on Wednesday will ship them again to the NLCS for the primary time since 2022.
Listed below are three takeaways from San Diego’s win:
Padres bullpen exhibits why the group spent closely to assemble unit
Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller has by no means shied away from taking daring swings, and that was no completely different on the July 30 commerce deadline. San Diego parted methods with a number of of its prime prospects to amass RHP Jason Adam and LHP Tanner Scott so as to add to the group’s already-formidable bullpen.
Whereas the Padres sacrificed a major quantity of prospect capital, their relievers confirmed why the strikes had been obligatory on Tuesday.
Beginning pitcher Michael King struggled mightily after having fun with a superb postseason debut, permitting 5 runs, 4 of which got here on a Teoscar Hernandez grand slam, in 5 innings with three strikeouts. However, the bullpen, clinging to a one-run lead, was in a position to decide King up and shut down the star-studded Dodgers lineup.
Jeremiah Estrada, Adam, Scott and Robert Suarez mixed to file the ultimate 12 outs for the Padres, permitting only one base runner throughout that span whereas racking up six strikeouts.
So long as the bullpen maintains its effectiveness, it will be arduous for any group to beat the Padres in a sequence this postseason, particularly contemplating that their lineup continues to offer loads of run help.
Dodgers RHP Walker Buehler was extra spectacular than his remaining line suggests
All issues thought of, Buehler pitched admirably for a participant who allowed six earned runs on seven hits with one stroll in 5 innings.
After delivering a scoreless first inning, San Diego ambushed the two-time All-Star in the course of the backside of the second. Buehler, who posted a 5.38 ERA within the common season after lacking 2023 to get well from Tommy John surgical procedure, gave up six runs within the inning, capped off by a two-run homer from Padres outfielder Fernando Tatis Jr.
It is price noting that Buehler’s protection let him down within the inning, with first baseman Freddie Freeman committing a throwing error when Los Angeles held a 1-0 lead.
Even so, the Dodgers, short-handed on pitchers, desperately wanted extra size out of Buehler to assist save a few of their key bullpen arms for Wednesday’s Recreation 4, and supervisor Dave Roberts opted to stay with the right-hander.
The choice was finally a clever one, as Buehler delivered a brave effort to maintain Los Angeles within the recreation. Buehler went on to retire the facet within the third inning and labored round a leadoff single within the fourth to get out of the body unscathed. Then, Buehler bumped into extra hassle within the fifth inning however bought Padres infielder Xander Bogaerts to hit right into a power out to finish his outing.
If the Dodgers win Recreation 4 and even up the sequence, Buehler’s efficiency on Tuesday might show to be a key purpose why.
Fernando Tatis Jr. continues to placed on a present
If it wasn’t already obvious, Tatis is constructed for October.
As talked about, the 25-year-old hit a two-run homer within the second inning as a part of San Diego’s scoring barrage, which proved to be the distinction within the group’s win.
