Arizona Diamondbacks vs San Diego Padres Picks and Predictions September 28th 2024

D-backs walking fine line ahead of rematch vs. Padres

The Arizona Diamondbacks are in a must-win situation as they face the San Diego Padres in the second game of a three-game series on Saturday night in Phoenix. After a 5-3 loss in the opener, the D-backs’ playoff chances are hanging by a thread, and the pressure is mounting.

Arizona’s Playoff Push: Slim Margins and High Stakes

With the regular season winding down, the Diamondbacks (88-72) find themselves locked in a tight National League wild-card race. Competing against the Atlanta Braves (87-71) and New York Mets (87-71) for the final two playoff spots, Arizona faces a tough road ahead. Because they’ve played two more games than their competitors, the D-backs can only win a maximum of 90 games, leaving them with no room for further slip-ups.

Friday’s loss hurt their chances significantly, especially as the Braves and Mets both have opportunities to pass them in the standings. Another loss on Saturday could severely damage Arizona’s playoff hopes.

Friday’s Defeat: An Early Deficit Too Big to Overcome

The Diamondbacks started Friday’s game on the wrong foot, surrendering four runs in the first inning to the Padres. Despite a valiant effort, they were unable to close the gap. Manager Torey Lovullo acknowledged the impact of the early setback:

The D-backs showed resilience but could not overcome the Padres’ strong start. With time running out, they’ll need a much better start in Saturday’s rematch to stay in the playoff hunt.

Eduardo Rodriguez: Arizona’s Hope for Redemption

Arizona will send left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez (3-4, 5.56 ERA) to the mound on Saturday. Rodriguez has struggled this month, posting a 6.00 ERA in September. His most recent outing was a shaky one against the San Francisco Giants, where he gave up five runs and three home runs over 4 2/3 innings in a 6-3 loss.

Rodriguez will need to turn things around quickly to give Arizona a fighting chance. Interestingly, he has some success against the Padres, though it dates back to 2019 when he blanked them over seven innings while pitching for the Boston Red Sox. He’ll need to summon that form as Arizona fights to keep its postseason dreams alive.

Padres Clinch and Prepare for Playoffs

The Padres (92-68) secured the top wild-card spot and the No. 4 seed in the National League playoffs with Friday’s win. This allows them to focus on preparing for the postseason, which starts next week. Manager Mike Shildt expressed satisfaction with the team’s position and highlighted the importance of resting key players:

“It’s nice to have that accomplishment for the organization and set up our pitching. We’ll get our regulars off their feet a little bit and be ready for Tuesday.”

Despite the luxury of resting players, star hitter Luis Arraez may continue playing as he pursues individual milestones. Arraez needs just one more hit to reach 200 for the season, a feat he’s determined to achieve. Arraez, a fierce competitor, also leads the National League in batting average (.314) and is seeking his third consecutive batting title after winning in the American League last season with the Minnesota Twins.

Luis Arraez: Chasing Milestones in the Midst of a Rest Plan

While the Padres can relax heading into the playoffs, Arraez has his eyes set on hitting a personal milestone. With 199 hits, he’s on the cusp of his second consecutive 200-hit season and third straight batting title. Shildt acknowledges Arraez’s drive:

Arraez’s chase adds intrigue to Saturday’s game as the Padres balance resting their stars with keeping players in form for the postseason.

Randy Vasquez: Padres’ Starting Pitcher with Something to Prove

San Diego will call up right-hander Randy Vasquez (4-7, 5.18 ERA) from Triple-A El Paso to start Saturday’s game. Vasquez struggled mightily in Triple-A, with a concerning 8.64 ERA in 10 starts. His last major league appearance was on August 31, when he gave up nine runs in 4 1/3 innings during an 11-4 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays.

Despite his rocky performances this season, Vasquez has pitched decently against Arizona, going 0-0 with a 3.46 ERA in two starts. Arizona’s Corbin Carroll has done well against Vasquez, going 4-for-7, making this a key matchup to watch.

Injuries Looming for Padres: Ha-Seong Kim’s Uncertainty

Another subplot for San Diego is the injury to shortstop Ha-Seong Kim, who has been sidelined with a right shoulder injury since mid-August. Although Kim is able to hit, his throwing ability remains compromised, and it seems unlikely he will be ready for the first round of the playoffs.

“He just hasn’t taken the step forward,”

Shildt said, noting that Kim is still struggling to generate intensity when throwing. This could leave a hole in San Diego’s defense heading into their postseason run.

What’s at Stake: Arizona’s Must-Win Mentality vs. San Diego’s Tune-Up Game

For the Arizona Diamondbacks, Saturday’s game is crucial. They need a victory to maintain their spot in the wild-card race, and poor pitching or a sluggish start could end their playoff hopes. Eduardo Rodriguez will need to be sharp, and Arizona’s lineup must capitalize on Randy Vasquez’s vulnerability to avoid a damaging loss.

For the San Diego Padres, this game represents an opportunity to rest key players and fine-tune their lineup ahead of the playoffs. However, they still have individual milestones to chase and a chance to gain momentum for their postseason run. Luis Arraez’s pursuit of 200 hits adds an additional layer of intrigue to a game that otherwise may have lacked playoff implications for San Diego.

Conclusion

As the Diamondbacks prepare for a pivotal showdown with the Padres, the stakes couldn’t be higher. Arizona’s slim playoff hopes depend on a strong performance from Eduardo Rodriguez and the offense. Meanwhile, the Padres, with their playoff spot secured, can focus on resting and refining their lineup while chasing individual milestones.

Arizona must play flawlessly to keep their postseason dreams alive, while San Diego will be looking to balance preparation with performance in this intriguing late-season clash.

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