The Padres and Dodgers play the penultimate series of the season in L.A. this week with the National League West division title on the line.
Last Monday afternoon, before the Padres started their final homestand of the season with a series against the Astros, starting pitcher Joe Musgrove was asked about the chances of securing a playoff spot. The implication was earning a Wild Card berth, maybe even hosting a first-round series."I think our sights are still set on challenging for the division and getting into a spot where those three games in L.A. can dictate the division," Musgrove said.
L.A. leads the Friars by 3.0 games, so if they win just one game, the Dodgers will emerge from the series with a lock on first place. However, if San Diego sweeps, they will be sitting atop the division standings because they own the season series tiebreaker by virtue of their 7-3 record in their first 10 meetings.
What gives the Friar Faithful hope for a sweep is the fact the Padres are not the same team now that they were in those first 10 games. They're a whole lot better. The real pitchers duel will come on Wednesday between two All-Stars. Cease might have the edge coming off 8.1 innings of shutout ball against Houston, the highest scoring team in the American League.
So while the Dodgers have a slightly better bullpen ERA , that's not indicative of the Padres adding Tanner Scott, Jason Adam and Bryan Hoeing at the deadline and the emergence of Jeremiah Estrada as a reliable high-leverage arm.
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