They started by going 2-5 in their first seven games, then 16-3 over their next 19 to sit at 18-8.Despite a litany of injuries, particularly in the starting rotation, they held on throughout most of May, even moving half a game up on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West with a series-opening win over LA on May 18.
As recently as May 23, they were 31-20 and half a game out of first place.But the Dodgers have pulled away over the last two weeks.San Diego went 2-10, including losing six games in a row to the Nationals, Phillies and Mets.
Meanwhile, LA went on a winning streak, building up an eight-game lead in the division.Oddly enough, even without key starters like Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove available, it hasn't been the Padres' pitching that's hurt them.
It's their offense.Per FanGraphs weighted runs created plus, a comprehensive statistic measuring total offensive output against league average, the Padres offense is tied for dead last in baseball.Incredibly, despite stars like Fernando Tatis Jr., Xander Bogaerts, Jackson Merrill and Manny Machado, the Padres offense has been 15% worse than league average.
The first place Dodgers? 20% better.AI-POWERED BAT TRACKING COULD GIVE BASEBALL PLAYERS THE EDGEFor some, that would be an indication that the Padres are underperforming their talent and unlikely to make a deep postseason run without more offense.For Manny Machado, it's an indication that there are too many statistics in baseball.Manny Machado of the San Diego Padres looks on during warmups before game three of the National League Wild Card Series against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Ill., on Oct.
2, 2025.(Michael Reaves/Getty Images)After the loss to the Mets, where the Padres were shut out yet again, Machado spoke to reporters about the team's offensive struggles.
And blamed...numbers."The game’s evolving, man.It’s definitely getting harder to play.
It’s definitely getting more strategic," Machado said after the ga...