3 San Diego Padres players who need to step up against Los Angeles Dodgers

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The San Diego Padres lost once again to the Los Angeles Dodgers last night to fall to 1-6 against their bitter rivals this season. This season, things felt like they were shaping up to be a two-team race in the west between the Friars and Dodgers but it's been anything but, thanks to the Padres underperforming drastically.

At 54-56 on the season, the Padres desperately need as many wins as possible to get back in the Wild Card race. They're currently 4.0 games behind the third spot, but also have to jump four teams just to squeak into a playoff spot.

With six more games to play against the Dodgers this season (including three this weekend), the Padres desperately need to find a way to get some wins. If these players step up, that'll give them a better shot.

1) Padres third baseman Manny Machado needs to step up against the Dodgers

Manny Machado has done a nice job turning his season around following his brutal start. Since June 1, Machado is slashing .276/.343/.519 with 15 home runs and 43 RBI. This is after Machado had a .654 OPS with just five home runs in the first month and a half of the season.

Machado has turned his season around, but has utterly failed against the Dodgers. The last time the Padres and Dodgers faced off in a series was in mid-May in Los Angeles. Machado went hitless in 11 at-bats in a Dodgers sweep. The Padres scored just four runs in three games.

Machado has been swinging a hot bat, but even last night he had just one hit in five at-bats against the Dodgers in San Diego's loss.

It's not Machado's fault that the team allowed 10 runs, but they also score a whole lot more and win a whole lot more when he actually produces. He has a 1.020 OPS in Padres wins, and a .528 OPS in losses. You expect virtually every hitter to do better in wins, but that difference is stark. He must show up the rest of the weekend for them to stand a chance.

San Diego Padres left fielder Juan Soto / Orlando Ramirez-USA TODAY Sports

2) Padres outfielder Juan Soto needs to step up against the Dodgers

Juan Soto is another player who has had poor results against the Dodgers this season. He entered this series with just five hits in 25 at-bats with only one walk drawn.

Last night, things were better for Soto who homered and drew a walk, but the home run did come in the ninth inning of what was already a blowout. In both opportunities in which he came up with a runner on base, Soto struck out.

The Padres offense goes when Soto and Machado go. They often win when these guys produce as well. Soto's OPS is at 1.149 in wins, and .756 in losses. Not quite as stark as Machado, and he's still a decent hitter when they lose, but it's still a pretty big difference.

Soto entered this series on a seven-game hitting streak, with five of the seven games featuring multiple hits off his bat including each of the last four games. He extended the hitting streak, but did slow down a touch. Expectations might be unreasonable, but he's Juan Soto. He has to carry them to victories.

San Diego Padres starting pitcher Blake Snell / Ray Acevedo-USA TODAY Sports

Padres pitcher Blake Snell needs to step up against the Dodgers

Unlike Soto and Machado, Blake Snell has done his job each time he's faced off against the Dodgers this year. He allowed two runs in six innings both times, but the Padres scored just three runs total in these games and lost both.

Snell needs to step up following last night's loss and lead the Padres to a win. He's pitched at a Cy Young-caliber level in his last 13 starts, thanks to his 0.73 ERA, and San Diego desperately needs more of that following last night's bullpen meltdown.

Any length Snell provides means less bullpen for the Dodgers to see. It's also important to keep in mind the fact that Rich Hill and Seth Lugo are the other starters for this series. Not to say that they're incapable, but Snell is the pitcher you expect to lead you to wins against teams like the Dodgers more than those two.

Simply put, the Padres need their ace and one of the best pitchers in the National League this season to be exactly that. You can win a game thanks to six or seven scoreless from your starter. He's been doing that for over two months, and now it's time to see it in a big game.

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