Top MLB Network personality picks Padres to beat Yankees in World Series

It has become abundantly clear that momentum is building behind the idea that the San Diego Padres are a force to be contended with this postseason. There was already an upswell of support for the Padres from the national media towards the end of the regular season, but the number of sports media personalities jumping on the San Diego bandwagon has been pretty wild ever since they took down the Braves in the NL Wild Card round.

Anything can happen in the playoffs, and defeating the Dodgers is not going to be an easy task. However, something does just feel "different" about this Padres team as they look like the most complete roster left in the 2024 playoffs. It also helps their tendency to rise to the occasion has been evident all season long.

Count longtime New York and national sports host Chris Russo as a believer. He went on record picking the Padres to win the World Series over the Yankees.

MLB Network's Chris Russo picked the Padres to win it all over his beloved Yankees

First, let's point out the personal growth for Russo here. The Yankees are always a hot name once they are in the playoffs, and a New York-based sports personality actually acknowledging the danger the Padres pose in the postseason is impressive. Perhaps part of it is that Russo is acutely aware that the Yankees' last World Series appearance is old enough to drive, but it was still nice to see the recognition.

Russo is hardly alone in thinking the Padres could make a deep October run, although it does appear the betting markets are not believers in San Diego just yet. The Dodgers are still significant favorites there, but expect that to change dramatically if the Padres tilt the scales at all in the NLDS.

Regardless of what the experts think, San Diego has a tough test coming up with the Dodgers. The Padres have played them tough in 2024 and LA has gotten some much-needed rest ahead of the series (although that has been a double-edged sword based on the results the last couple of years).

It is on San Diego to ultimately live up to their potential this postseason, but the narrative tides do seem like they are trending in the Padres' direction.

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