MLB Playoffs: Three most dangerous postseason teams in 2020
By Nick Stevens
One of the hottest teams headed in the MLB playoffs? The San Diego Padres.
Does anyone want to play the San Diego Padres? Arguably MLB’s most exciting team to follow, the Padres are coming off a dramatic win against their hated rivals, the Los Angeles Dodgers, and are now in striking distance of an NL West crown.
With the recent release of the MLB playoff schedule, the first thing that immediately jumped out was the lack of days off. Teams with deep starting rotations are going to have an advantage and the Padres have just that.
Dinelson Lamet, Zach Davies, and Mike Clevinger have pitched extremely well this season, with Lamet being the most underrated starting pitcher in baseball. The worst pitcher in the Padres rotation has been Garrett Richards and he hasn’t been particularly bad, going 2-2 with a 4.72 ERA and a 0.7 fWAR in 10 starts.
We haven’t even mentioned The Sheriff, Chris Paddack. Paddack hasn’t been as good as last season, but he’s still striking out more than 25% of hitters and he has the exact attitude of someone you want on the mound in a must-win game. After a slight injury scare, Paddack is healthy and will be a little more rested as the playoffs arrive.
The Padres lineup might also be one of the most complete lineups in baseball. With likely NL MVP Fernando Tatis Jr. NL Rookie of the Year Jake Cronenworth, potential Comeback Player of the Year Wil Myers all in this lineup, along with Manny Machado, and the surging Trent Grisham, there are no holes in this lineup.
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Just in case there weren’t enough weapons, both Tommy Pham and Eric Hosmer are expected to return to the lineup before the end of the regular season.
First-year manager Jayce Tingler has a deep lineup and rotation and a healthier bullpen that’s been performing extremely well down the stretch. These San Diego Padres are for real and they are ready to make a run.