San Diego Padres Must Overcome Adversity to Claim Postseason Berth

If the San Diego Padres are going to claim a postseason berth, then they must do baseball’s simplest act: play winning baseball.

That means pitching more consistently and hitting better in the clutch. Thankfully, there is plenty of baseball to be played in 2021 for the Padres to overcome the adversity suffered in the first half of the regular season.

San Diego Padres Offense Must Become More Aggressive

The Friars begin the second half on the road with three games against the Washington Nationals, then three games against the Atlanta Braves and four games with the Miami Marlins before returning home. This road trip could be a defining moment in the season. The Padres must show they have a winning pedigree that all championship teams possess.

The Friars are dominant at Petco Park with a 33-19 home record. But they struggle on the road with a 20-21 mark. The Padres cannot come home from this road trip with a sub .500 record as the level of anxiety will be high in San Diego.

No, the Padres must play with more aggression and confidence. That means taking the extra base when the situation dictates it. The offense slumps when it becomes too stationary on the base
path. It seems like the Friars are waiting for a home run to solve their scoring woes. But sitting around biding time for the bats to awaken will open the door for the other team to gain a lead in the contest.

“Be aggressive and score first” should be the Padres motto in the second half.

San Diego Padres Pitching Depth Has Been Tested

The Friars’ organizational pitching depth has been tested by the number of injuries sustained thus far. The club suffered another blow in the final game before the All-Star break. Rookie pitching sensation Ryan Weathers sprained his right foot that will keep him out until early August. Weathers was amidst in one of those rookie campaigns that cements his spot in the starting rotation. He was 4-2 with a 2.91 ERA in 17 appearances (11 starts).

Remember, the lefthander made his major league debut out of the bullpen against the Los Angeles Dodgers in last fall’s National League Divisional Series. Under the circumstances, Weathers handled himself well with good command of his pitches. His injury is yet another loss to the Padres pitching staff as their top arms have suffered significant injuries this season.

The Padres are patiently waiting on the return of Yu Darvish,
which could take place at the start of next week. Let’s not forget
that the Padres have lost Adrian Morejon and Keone Kela for the
season with Tommy John surgery, while Dinelson Lamet, Drew
Pomeranz and Matt Strahm all remain sidelined. That is the Cliff Notes version of the Padres IL list. It seems endless, but hopefully not growing too much more in the final two months of the season.

Snell Could be a Difference-Maker in the Second Half

Still, the pitching staff must show some resilience in the second half as someone will have to step up. The Friar Faithful wonder if Blake Snell is the right candidate for the role. Some doubts have
been raised about his performance level this season. Snell is immensely talented, but he has been quite disappointing in big games.

When he throws strikes, there is no better pitcher in baseball from a skillset standpoint. However, when Snell struggles, he becomes overwhelmed in the moment. His control suffers as well as his confidence level on the mound.

The Padres do not need him to be unhittable. Just deliver a devastating sequence of pitches that keeps an opposing lineup guessing for six or more innings before handing the ball off to the bullpen.

With the trade deadline looming at the end of the month. The amount of injuries sustained thus far further calls for the need of the Friars to add an arm or two to bolster a depleted staff. Padres
general manager AJ Preller must evaluate who is available and determine if those pitchers can make a significant contribution or are just a patchwork addition.

The San Diego Padres have their eyes set on some lofty goals. The hard work begins now and continues until late October.