Fernando Tatis Jr. saves Padres from White Sox embarrassment as World Series odds climb

if you're really a playoff team, you have to take care of business against lesser competition. The competition doesn't get much worse than the Chicago White Sox. The South Siders have already fired their manager and could set a new Major League record for futility.

But the San Diego Padres almost let Friday's game against the White Sox slip away. Thank goodness for Fernando Tatis Jr.'s clutch hitting in the 10th inning. The White Sox knotted the score at 2-2 during the top of the ninth inning, but after putting a goose egg on the scoreboard during the top of the 10th, Tatis laced an RBI-double into right-center field and walked it off in front 45,000-plus at Petco Park.

Fernando Tatis Jr. saved Padres from another Robert Suarez collapse

And while walk-offs are fun, the Padres should not have needed Tatis' 10th-inning magic in order to defeat the White Sox. Joe Musgrove had already spun a gem with nine strikeouts over six innings and zero runs allowed. Padres manager Mike Shildt then handed things over to the capable hands of Jason Adam and Tanner Scott, both of whom notched a strikeout and didn't allow a single Chicago batter to dent the plate.

But once again, Robert Suarez struggled in the big moment. Called upon in the ninth inning with a 2-0 lead, Suarez struck out Andrew Benintendi and then induced a ground out from Andrew Vaughn. A nine-pitch battle against Ben Sheets ended when Suarez's 100-plus heater barely missed the bottom of the strike zone and brought tying run to the dish.

The Padres' closer, unable to put away the White Sox's No. 8 hitter, delivered a middle-middle fastball that Lenyn Sosa did not miss. The Chicago second base stunned the Friar faithful with a laser over the left field wall to tie the game. Thankfully, Adrian Morejon kept the score tied in the top of the 10th and paved the way for Tatis to play the role of hero.

Padres World Series odds increase following win over White Sox

The Padres are closing in the MLB Postseason, and according to FanGraphs, have a 99.9% chance to make the playoffs. The Friars get two more against the hapless White Sox and could be cracking open the champagne any day now.

The Padres World Series odds have climbed to 9.6%, putting them behind only the Los Angeles Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies in the National League. The New York Yankees (18.3%) own the best chance to win the Fall Classic, and the Padres would be more than happy to entertain old friend Juan Soto and the Bronx Bombers this October.

But first things first; the Padres need to lock up a spot in the playoffs before looking ahead to the World Series. Martín Pérez will take the hill for the Padres on Saturday with San Diego looking for another series win.

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