Padres: The National League Division Series is shaping into a thrilling battle

Hold on to your seats as the Padres find themselves center stage in a real David versus Goliath matchup.

The San Diego Padres have been one of the most fun teams of a wondrously strange 2020 baseball season. Heading into the year, many projected the Friars as one of the “dark-horse” clubs to reach the promised land that is the postseason. In what began as a pipe dream is now reality, more than anyone could have imagined.

After a hard-fought NL Wild Card series versus the St.Louis Cardinals in which the Padres were without their top two starting pitchers, the team utilized its arsenal in its entirety to move into the Division Series. They will face the NL West division winner and powerhouse Los Angeles Dodgers.

If you blink, you might miss something. In all honesty, it could not have worked out better for baseball, especially this season, with a Padres/Dodgers postseason matchup. Each team has so much young talent. In a year where it has become the norm to ‘expect the unexpected,’ the Padres have the chance to shock the baseball world and play spoiler to the Dodgers, as the Dodgers look to banish their postseason demons once and for all.

Padres: A bevy of young talent ready for centerstage

We are about to bear witness to a playoff series, which includes the following players: Fernando Tatis Jr., Cody Bellinger, Manny Machado, Mookie Betts. The talent list goes on and on with many fun faces representing their respective clubs. Add in the likes of some rookies who will most likely find their way onto the roster, and it is set for a fun series with some of the best young talents in the league.

It will be intriguing as to what the Padres do with their roster. It would make sense for Jake Cronenworth to be added as he hit .285 with 20 RBI and posted a 125 wRC+ in his inaugural year in Major League Baseball. Trent Grisham would also not be a surprise as his 2.3 WAR ranked in the top-20 across all of baseball.

Of course, the Dodgers have one of the best players in baseball in Betts, and adding Bellinger and most likely Corey Seager to the fold with inevitably bring an exciting battery of talent on each side through what could be a surprising high-scoring series.

In terms of pitching, Buehler is a star. Padres starting pitcher Chris Paddack is still trying to find his footing but can be counted. Top prospects Adrian Morejon and Luis Patino, who made their debuts this season, will most likely factor in for the Padres at some point as will Dodgers 22-year-old fireballer Brusdar Graterol. It is going to be a star-studded time in the Lone Star state.

Padres: Diving into the numbers

The Padres finished their truncated season 37-23, six games behind the Dodgers, and their major league-best 43-17 finish. Strangely enough, as the Dodgers finished first across baseball with a +136 run differential, it was the Padres holding firm in the number two spot with a +84 run differential.

Overall the Dodgers won the season series 6-4. The first meeting between the two teams matched Paddack against Buehler as Paddack out-pitched Buehler in a 5-4 Padres victory. A week later, one of the Padres four victories over the Dodgers was carried by the bullpen as it combined eight shutout innings in a 2-1 win.

Game one could be a grind for the Padres offense as they are just a combined 9-for-50 (.173) against Buehler. Eric Hosmer is 0-for-13, which may be cause for the Padres to turn to Mitch Moreland. However, it is unlikely. Hopefully, the Padres will be in for a fight and keep the magic that is ‘Slam Diego’ alive.