SAN DIEGO — Mathematically, it is inconceivable. Which, by definition, means it is nonetheless potential.
To be clear, the Padres stay an extended shot to achieve the postseason. They sit 5 1/2 video games out of the playoff image with 36 video games remaining. They will want to leap no less than 4 groups to place themselves in a playoff place.
In different phrases: They have an terrible lot of labor to do — and never all that a lot time to do it. Which makes this week’s collection towards the Marlins, fellow contenders within the Nationwide League Wild Card race, considerably crucial.
“As a group, we’re going into each single recreation as our final recreation,” Kim stated, through interpreter Leo Bae. “Clearly, each recreation is vital. That’s our mentality proper now — and tomorrow, as nicely.”
After what they dubbed “an extended, depressing day” on Saturday — during which they dropped each video games of a doubleheader towards the D-backs — the Padres wanted a response this week. Their fading playoff hopes virtually trusted it.
And after they’ve wanted a spark this 12 months, so typically it’s been Kim who has delivered it.
“At instances it looks like we’re down,” stated Padres supervisor Bob Melvin. “Nevertheless it by no means does in the best way he performs. It’s a key ingredient for us always. He by no means takes a pitch off, by no means doesn’t run a ball out. … There’s simply quite a lot of vitality that comes with him.”
To be honest, Kim has introduced that stage of vitality in all three of his seasons with the Padres. Solely lately has he added energy to his repertoire.
The Padres led, 1-0, within the second inning when Kim got here to the plate with the bases loaded towards former teammate Ryan Weathers. Kim turned on a fastball on the within nook and despatched it to the second row in left area, the primary grand slam of his MLB profession and his seventeenth homer of the season.
“As soon as hitters get scorching, they keep scorching,” Kim stated. “… Final two months, I’ve had a scorching bat, and I’ve been capable of maintain it going as a lot as potential. I’m considering: Attempt to keep scorching till the top of the season.”
At this level, it’s unimaginable to overstate Kim’s worth to those 2023 Padres. (Shudder to suppose the place their season may be with out him.) Kim has a slash line of .280/.370/.449 whereas taking part in excellent protection at three premium infield spots. He has been probably the most precious Padre by bWAR and fWAR, a candidate for a top-five MVP end within the Nationwide League.
In 2023, Kim is turning into a star, turning maybe one of the best season ever for a Padres second baseman. That will make it particularly laborious to swallow if this group — with the offensive observe information of the remainder of the hitters on this lineup — had been to let that type of breakout season go to waste.
After all, the Padres have practically seven weeks to make sure that doesn’t occur. Wacha did his half on Monday. He was glorious, putting out seven, together with six along with his putaway changeup, whereas permitting just one run. Within the course of, he lowered his ERA to 2.63 on the season — and a 1.15 mark in his final 12 begins.
“Each recreation down the stretch right here is vital,” Wacha stated. “I view all of them as must-win video games heading into this final month and a half. It’s time, for certain.”
Manny Machado tacked on a solo shot within the fifth. Though the Marlins clawed two runs again within the sixth, together with Josh Bell’s homer towards Wacha, they received no nearer. San Diego even managed to keep away from utilizing nearer Josh Hader within the ninth, getting a 1-2-3 body from Tom Cosgrove.
Now, the Padres want only one win from the following two video games to safe the season collection towards Miami (and the head-to-head tiebreaker that goes together with it). Then once more, this isn’t the primary time they’ve picked up an encouraging victory, the kind of win you’d suppose would get them headed in the suitable course.
“We haven’t been capable of string collectively video games,” Melvin stated. “When you’ve got a superb recreation like this, there shouldn’t be a letdown the following day. However for no matter purpose, we haven’t been capable of comply with good video games up with extra of them. That’s why we’re sitting on the document that we’re.”