Browsing: Padres

Oct 13, 2025, 12:30 PM ET

Mike Shildt is retiring as San Diego Padres manager with two years remaining on his contract, saying “the grind of the baseball season has taken a severe toll on me mentally, physically and emotionally.”

The 57-year-old Shildt on Saturday informed the team he would retire, nine days after the Padres were eliminated by the Chicago Cubs in a tense three-game wild-card series. He said he made the decision on his own accord.

Shildt led the Padres to the postseason in each of the two seasons he managed the franchise. The club confirmed Shildt’s decision Monday.

“While it has always been about serving others, it’s time I take care of myself and exit on my terms,” Shildt said in a statement given to the San Diego Union-Tribune. “I gave every fiber of my being to help achieve Peter Seidler’s vision of bringing a World Series Championship to San Diego.

“We fell short of the ultimate goal, but I am proud of what the players, staff and organization were able to accomplish the last two seasons.”

Shildt went 183-141 as manager in San Diego. The Padres won 90 games this season and finished second in the NL West before being eliminated by the Cubs.

“I am most grateful for our players,” Shildt said in his statement. “San Diego is rightfully proud of the Padres players. It is a group that conducts themselves with class, is dedicated to each other and the common goal of winning a World Series. I love our players and will miss them dearly!!

“After 34 years of dedicating myself to the rigors of coaching and managing, I can with great enjoyment look back on achieving my two primary goals: To help players get the most out of their God given ability and become better men. Also, to win games.”

Before joining the Padres organization in early 2022 as a player development coach, Shildt was the manager of the St. Louis Cardinals from 2018 to 2021, posting a winning record in each of his three full seasons. He was the NL Manager of the Year in 2019 after leading the Cards to 91 wins and the NL Central title.

“We would like to congratulate Mike on a successful career and thank him for his significant contributions to the Padres and the San Diego community over the last four years,” Padres general manager A.J. Preller wrote as part of a statement.

Preller added that the search for a new Padres manager “will begin immediately with the goal of winning a World Series championship in 2026.”

The next Padres manager will be the sixth to work under Preller since he was hired to lead the baseball operations department in 2014, following Bud Black, Andy Green, Jayce Tingler, Bob Melvin and Shildt, whose retirement makes the Padres one of eight teams searching for a new manager this offseason.

Information from ESPN’s Alden Gonzalez and The Associated Press was used in this report.

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Oct 10, 2025, 03:40 PM ET

SAN DIEGO — San Diego Padres infielder Jose Iglesias was suspended Friday for one game and fined for unprofessional conduct toward the umpires during the final game of the club’s wild-card playoff series against the Chicago Cubs, MLB announced.

Infielder Xander Bogaerts was also fined an undisclosed amount for his conduct during the interaction that followed the final out at Wrigley Field on Oct. 2 when the Padres were eliminated from the postseason by Chicago.

The Padres had a pointed shouting match with the umpiring crew as it left the field following the Cubs’ 3-1 victory. Video of the confrontation was widely viewed on social media.

Home plate umpire D.J. Reyburn called a third strike on Bogaerts for the first out in the ninth inning on a pitch that appeared to be below the zone. An infuriated Bogaerts argued with Reyburn, while manager Mike Shildt ran onto the field to defend his player and to speak with Reyburn.

After the game ended several minutes later with two Padres stranded in scoring position, the umpires had to walk down the steps of the visitors’ dugout to leave the field.

Reyburn then appeared to exchange words with Bogaerts and Iglesias, who both became incensed. It wasn’t clear who initiated the argument.

“It messed up the whole game, you know?” Bogaerts said of Reyburn’s call. “I mean, we can’t go back in time, and talking about it now won’t change anything. It was bad, and thank god for ABS next year, because it’s just terrible.”

MLB will institute an automated ball-strike challenge system (ABS) next season.

Iglesias will be a free agent this winter. He could appeal his suspension.

The Padres, who won 90 games, made the postseason for the fourth time in six seasons but failed to win a postseason series for the first time in that stretch.

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CHICAGO — Pete Crow-Armstrong hit an RBI single off a shaky Yu Darvish, and the Chicago Cubs shut down Fernando Tatis Jr. and the San Diego Padres for a clinching 3-1 victory in Game 3 of their NL Wild Card Series on Thursday.

Backed by a raucous crowd of 40,895 at Wrigley Field, Chicago used its stellar defense to advance in the postseason for the first time since 2017. Michael Busch hit a solo homer, and Jameson Taillon pitched four shutout innings before manager Craig Counsell used five relievers to close it out.

“This group’s battle-tested,” Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson said. “This group can grind it out. This group never backs down from and shies away from anything. This is such an amazing thing to be a part of.”

After Brad Keller faltered in the ninth — allowing Jackson Merrill’s leadoff homer and hitting two batters with pitches — Andrew Kittredge earned the save by retiring Jake Cronenworth on a bouncer to third and Freddy Fermin on a fly ball to center field.

Next up for Chicago is a matchup with the NL Central champion Brewers in a compelling division series, beginning with Game 1 on Saturday in Milwaukee.

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Counsell managed the Brewers for nine years before he was hired by the Cubs in November 2023, and he has been lustily booed in Milwaukee ever since he departed.

“It’s going to be a great atmosphere,” Counsell said. “It’s Cubs-Brewers. That’s going to be as good as it gets. It’s always a great atmosphere when the two teams play each other.”

It was another painful ending for San Diego after it made the postseason for the fourth time in six years but fell short of a pennant again. The Padres forced a decisive Game 3 with a 3-0 victory on Wednesday, but their biggest stars flopped in the series finale.

“There’s a lot of hurt guys in that clubhouse, but we left it all out on the field, and there’s no regrets on anybody’s part,” manager Mike Shildt said. “Just disappointed.”

Tatis went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts, including a fly ball to right that stranded runners on second and third in the fifth. Machado, who hit a two-run homer in Game 2, bounced to shortstop Swanson for the final out of the eighth, leaving a runner at third.

“It’s not fun at all. We definitely missed an opportunity,” Tatis said.

Darvish also struggled against his former team. The Japanese right-hander was pulled after the first four Cubs batters reached in the second inning, capped by the first of Crow-Armstrong’s three hits.

Jeremiah Estrada came in and issued a bases-loaded walk to Swanson, handing the Cubs a 2-0 lead. Estrada limited the damage by striking out Matt Shaw before Busch bounced into an inning-ending double play.

Taillon allowed two hits and struck out four. Caleb Thielbar got two outs before Daniel Palencia wiggled out of a fifth-inning jam while earning his second win of the series. Drew Pomeranz managed the seventh before Keller worked the eighth.

The Cubs supported their bullpen with another solid day in the field. Swanson made a slick play on Luis Arraez’s leadoff grounder in the sixth, and then turned an inning-ending double play following a walk to Machado.

Crow-Armstrong, who went 0-for-6 with five strikeouts in the first two games, robbed Machado of a hit with a sliding catch in center in the first.

“It’s just the next step for us,” Busch said. “You set out a goal before each and every year to do stuff like this, and you celebrate it, and it’s been fun to celebrate and continue to celebrate it tonight, but there’s a lot of work ahead.”

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CHICAGO — Pete Crow-Armstrong hit an RBI single off a shaky Yu Darvish, and the Chicago Cubs shut down Fernando Tatis Jr. and the San Diego Padres for a clinching 3-1 victory in Game 3 of their NL Wild Card Series on Thursday.

Backed by a raucous crowd of 40,895 at Wrigley Field, Chicago used its stellar defense to advance in the postseason for the first time since 2017. Michael Busch hit a solo homer, and Jameson Taillon pitched four shutout innings before manager Craig Counsell used five relievers to close it out.

After Brad Keller faltered in the ninth — allowing Jackson Merrillâ€s leadoff homer and hitting two batters with pitches — Andrew Kittredge earned the save by retiring Jake Cronenworth on a bouncer to third and Freddy Fermin on a flyball to center field.

Next up for Chicago is a matchup with the NL Central champion Brewers in a compelling Division Series, beginning with Game 1 on Saturday in Milwaukee.

Counsell managed the Brewers for nine years before he was hired by the Cubs in November 2023, and he has been lustily booed in Milwaukee ever since he departed.

It was a disappointing finish for San Diego after it made the postseason for the fourth time in six years. The Padres forced a decisive Game 3 with a 3-0 victory on Wednesday, but their biggest stars flopped in the series finale.

Tatis went 0 for 4 with three strikeouts, including a flyball to right that stranded runners on second and third in the fifth. Machado, who hit a two-run homer in Game 2, bounced to shortstop Dansby Swanson for the final out of the eighth, leaving a runner at third.

Darvish also struggled against his former team. The Japanese right-hander was pulled after the first four Cubs batters reached in the second inning, capped by the first of Crow-Armstrongâ€s three hits.

Jeremiah Estrada came in and issued a bases-loaded walk to Swanson, handing the Cubs a 2-0 lead. Estrada limited the damage by striking out Matt Shaw before Busch bounced into an inning-ending double play.

Taillon allowed two hits and struck out four. Caleb Thielbar got two outs before Daniel Palencia wiggled out of a fifth-inning jam while earning his second win of the series. Drew Pomeranz handled the seventh before Keller worked the eighth.

The Cubs supported their bullpen with another solid day in the field. Swanson made a slick play on Luis Arraezâ€s leadoff grounder in the sixth, and then turned an inning-ending double play following a walk to Machado.

Crow-Armstrong, who went 0 for 6 with five strikeouts in the first two games of the series, robbed Machado of a hit with a sliding catch in center in the first.

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Chicago went 7-6 against Milwaukee this season, outscoring the Brewers 60-56. The NL Central rivals last played in August, when the Cubs won three times in a five-game series.

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CHICAGO — The season is on the line for the Padres, who will try to stave off elimination in the best-of-three NL Wild Card Series when they face the Cubs once more at Wrigley Field on Wednesday. First pitch is scheduled for 2:08 p.m. CT/12:08 p.m. PT.

But after a 3-1 Cubs victory Tuesday, San Diego manager Mike Shildt didnâ€t seem bothered by the suddenly precarious state of this series.

“We’ll see where the game presents,†Shildt said. “Clearly our backs are against it, but look, our club is no stranger to challenges. We’re battle-tested, we’ll answer the bell [Wednesday], and we’ll go from there.â€

The Cubs will take the field with history on their side. In best-of-three Wild Card Series, teams that have won Game 1 at home have finished the series in a sweep all seven times. Game 1 winners, in general, have gone on to win the series 18 of 20 times.

One of those two exceptions? The 2020 Padres.

“Obviously, it just gets us one closer,” Cubs shortstop Dansby Swanson said of the Game 1 win. “But at the end of the day, weâ€ve got to be able to show up [Wednesday] with some intensity and be ready to compete again, because I know they will.â€

When is the game, and how can I watch it?
Game 2 will air at 2 p.m. CT/noon PT on ABC. The start time for a potential Game 3 on Thursday remains TBD.

All series are available in the U.S. on MLB.TV with authentication to a participating Pay TV provider. Games also are available live internationally, although not in Canada. Sportsnet is MLB’s exclusive English language broadcaster in Canada for every Postseason game, while TVA Sports will be covering the entire AL Postseason and the World Series in French and Broadcaster RDS will cover the entire NL Postseason in French.

Who are the starting pitchers?
Padres: RHP Dylan Cease (8-12, 4.55 ERA)
Cease struggled for much of the summer but was better down the stretch, posting a 3.12 ERA with 32 strikeouts in five September starts. A Cubs 2014 Draft pick before he was dealt to the White Sox in July 2017 as a Minor Leaguer, Cease has also been excellent throughout his career at Wrigley Field, with a 2.50 ERA in three starts. That said, after Ceaseâ€s struggles throughout the summer, itâ€s possible the Padres would have a quick hook with the right-hander, given their loaded bullpen.

Cubs: RHP Andrew Kittredge (4-3, 3.40 ERA)
Cubs manager Craig Counsell played it coy about his Game 2 starter, and now the reason has been revealed. He is planning on using the veteran Kittredge as an opener after the righty worked a clean eighth inning in Game 1. The Cubs acquired Kittredge at the Trade Deadline, and he has been a key piece to the bullpen, with a 3.32 ERA and 32 strikeouts against three walks in 21 2/3 innings since joining the club. In all likelihood, lefty Shota Imanaga will be available for a bulk outing behind Kittredge. This way, Imanaga (who has struggled of late and has been homer prone) would have less exposure to the top of San Diegoâ€s order.

What are the starting lineups?

While Ramón Laureano recovers from a fractured right index finger, the Padres have used Sheets as their regular left fielder, which skews the lineup a bit lefty-heavy — particularly toward the bottom, where theyâ€ve lined up three straight lefty hitters from six through eight.

Facing another right-hander, the Cubs are sticking with the same lineup from the Game 1 win. It was also the way the order looked at the very end of the season following Tuckerâ€s return. Suzuki and Kelly powered the offense to the series-opening win with back-to-back homers off righty Nick Pivetta in the fifth inning.

How will the bullpens line up after the starter?

Padres: Hereâ€s where things get interesting. Michael King, who wasnâ€t included in the Wild Card Series rotation, is available in relief if Cease struggles early. Beyond King, the entire back end of the San Diego bullpen is well-rested enough, with none of the relievers having worked multiple innings on Tuesday. As usual, Robert Suarez would get the ninth, and Mason Miller will have the highest-leverage spots outside the ninth, with Adrian Morejon available to tackle the toughest lefties.

Cubs: This would normally be Imanagaâ€s scheduled start day, but using Kittredge as an opener points to having the lefty enter in relief. On the season, Imanaga allowed 31 homers in 144 2/3 innings, compared to 27 in 173 1/3 innings last season. In his final six turns this year, the lefty had a 5.97 ERA with 12 homers surrendered in 34 2/3 frames. If not Imanaga, righty Colin Rea could also be an option. Counsell used his main bullpen group (Daniel Palencia, Drew Pomeranz, Brad Keller and Kittredge) to lock down the Game 1 win, but like Kittredge, they should all be at the ready for Game 2.

Padres: Laureano remains sidelined with a finger fracture, which is costly for a Padres team that already skewed heavy on left-handed hitters. Itâ€s possible heâ€d return in a later round of the playoffs. Elias Díaz, meanwhile, could be back for the Division Series, if the Padres were to advance. But heâ€s not on their Wild Card Series roster, leaving Luis Campusano and Martín Maldonado as their backups behind Fermin.

Cubs: Tucker was the DH for Game 1, as he continues to build back to full speed when it comes to running. He missed three-plus weeks in September due to a left calf issue, but was cleared to return in time for the playoffs. It isnâ€t clear yet when Tucker will return to the outfield. Righty Cade Horton (15-day injured list, right rib fracture) is likely out for the playoffs†first two rounds.

Who is hot and who is not?

Padres: The Padres only had four hits in Game 1, but Bogaerts had two of them. Tatis and Arraez finished the regular season strong, but both went hitless in Game 1. In fact, the Padres’ trio at the top of the lineup — Tatis, Arraez, Machado — finished Tuesdayâ€s game a combined 0-for-11.

Cubs: Suzuki ended the regular season with a homer in each of his last four games, belting five total in that span. He then launched a game-tying shot in Game 1 of this series. That made Suzuki the first player in MLB history to enter the postseason on a four-game homer streak to then hit another one in his first playoff game. After hitting .333 with an .842 OPS in September, Hoerner had two hits and a sacrifice fly in the Game 1 win. Crow-Armstrong went 0-for-3 with three strikeouts in Game 1.

Anything else fans might want to know?

• The Padres and Cubs have split six postseason games all-time, but the Padres have never won a game at Wrigley Field. All three of their victories came in 1984, when they rallied from an 0-2 deficit to win a best-of-five NL Championship Series.

• Across their last 33 postseason innings, the Padres have scored just one run, dating back to the NLDS against the Dodgers last year.

• The Cubs are trying to clinch their first postseason series win at Wrigley Field since Kyle Hendricks outdueled Clayton Kershaw to beat the Dodgers in Game 6 of the 2016 NLCS. Both the ’16 World Series win over Cleveland and the ’17 NLDS win over the Nationals were on the road.

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SAN DIEGO — The Padres will be riding plenty of good vibes into Chicago.

They completed their regular season with a sweep of the Diamondbacks, including a 12-4 thrashing on Sunday afternoon at Petco Park. San Diego finished its regular season at 90-72 — marking consecutive seasons with at least 90 wins for the first time in franchise history.

“Thatâ€s a big accomplishment,†said manager Mike Shildt, who has won at least 90 games in all four of his full seasons as a manager, including two in St. Louis. “This team is setting out to be consistent and year in year out play baseball that the city can be really proud of.â€

The reward for another 90-win season? A trip to Wrigley Field for a Wild Card Series against the Cubs beginning on Tuesday. First pitch is slated for 12:08 p.m. PT. The Padres packed to leave for Chicago immediately after Sundayâ€s game, and theyâ€ll hold a workout at Wrigley Field on Monday afternoon.

“Obviously, playoffs has a little more emotion to it, a little bit more meaning,†said center fielder Jackson Merrill. “But for us, we take every game the same. We just play as hard as possible. Thatâ€s my mindset.â€

The Padres clinched their spot in the playoffs on Monday and knew by Thursday that theyâ€d be facing the Cubs, having been eliminated from contention in the National League West. But even with little to play for this weekend, the Padres made their postseason tune-up worthwhile.

The most encouraging part: The offense seems to be clicking. No doubt, the loss of Ramón Laureano to a right index finger fracture hurts. But the Padres†bats have come to life lately, even without him. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Merrill are suddenly red hot. Manny Machado homered and had two hits on Sunday. Luis Arraez is rounding into form.

Looks like an offense ready for October.

“Things are finally starting to click,†Machado said of the offense. “So letâ€s just continue to click. At the end of the day, the seasonâ€s over. It was a great season for all of us. We had our bumps and bruises and our ups and downs. … We accomplished a lot. [Regular] seasonâ€s over now. Now, itâ€s time to go out on the field and play some good baseball.â€

As their regular season came to an end on Sunday afternoon, the Padres waited on the field before returning to the clubhouse, applauding another sellout crowd at Petco Park. During Sundayâ€s game, the team announced a season-long attendance figure of 3,437,201 — breaking last seasonâ€s franchise record.

The Padres also finished with 52 wins at Petco Park this season, trailing only the 1998 team for the most home victories in franchise history. Now, the important question: Will they be back here in 10 days for Game 3 of the NL Division Series.

Theyâ€ll need to beat a Cubs team that finished with 92 wins, and if they do that, their prize will be the top-seeded Brewers.

Shildt formally tabbed right-hander Nick Pivetta as his Game 1 starter — which wasnâ€t exactly a surprise. The Cubs, who lost potential Game 1 starter Cade Horton for the series to a rib fracture, have not yet announced who will oppose Pivetta.

The Padres like their chances against anyone, given the way theyâ€ve been playing lately. They finished the season by winning seven of their final eight games.

“Weâ€re playing like weâ€re capable of,†Merrill said. “Weâ€re not giving anything away. Weâ€re playing hard every day. Everybodyâ€s doing their part. Itâ€s coming together.â€

And thereâ€s no better time for it.

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Sep 27, 2025, 02:57 AM ET

SAN DIEGO — Fernando Tatís Jr. says he fell ill with the COVID-19 virus several days ago, which meant he had to watch the party from his couch while the San Diego Padres clinched a playoff spot Monday.

When he returned to the Padres’ lineup Friday after missing three games, Tatís made sure the baseball world knew he was healthy and ready for October.

Tatís hit a grand slam in the fourth inning of the Padres’ 7-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night, swinging the momentum in a win that kept San Diego in contention for a home playoff series.

“I feel way better today, and I’m looking forward to feeling even better in the next couple of days,” Tatís said after hitting his fourth career grand slam.

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Tatís missed the Padres’ entire home series with the Milwaukee Brewers earlier this week after coming down with the virus. His teammates took two of three from the team with the best record in the majors, including an 11-inning victory Monday that secured back-to-back playoff berths for San Diego for only the second time in franchise history.

While the Padres popped bottles and drenched their clubhouse, Tatís was jealous.

“It’s definitely hard watching from home,” Tatís said. “We’ve played for this all year, so [I] definitely was looking forward to that celebration. But now that means we need to celebrate a couple more times.”

Tatís did his part to keep the party going Friday when he connected off Arizona’s Zac Gallen for his 24th homer of the season, erasing a 2-1 deficit. The five-tool star known as “El Niño” stood at the plate and admired his 409-foot shot while another sellout crowd at Petco Park roared for him.

“Welcome back Tatí, right?” Padres manager Mike Shildt said. “I mean, he’s always had power. There was a spell where he didn’t do it, but I think we feel good about him [being] a dangerous guy regardless of the power included.”

Tatís’ illness interrupted a productive season in which he hasn’t been a dominant power hitter but has demonstrated consistency and durability that eluded him in earlier years. He has driven in 70 runs for the third time, but he’s done it with career bests of 157 hits and 109 runs while playing in a career-high 153 games and counting.

Tatís also homered against the White Sox on Sunday in the Padres’ final game before his illness.

Thanks to Tatís’ slam and reliever Mason Miller’s four-out save, the Padres (88-72) remained in contention to host the Chicago Cubs (90-70) in their wild-card series next week — although San Diego can only avoid that trip to Wrigley Field if it wins both of its weekend games against Arizona while the Cubs lose twice to St. Louis.

No matter where the clubs meet, Tatís is feeling confident in the Padres’ chances of making another playoff run — and in his chances of continuing his impressive postseason play.

He has shown off his power stroke in his two previous trips to the postseason, hitting six homers and driving in 12 runs in his 13 career playoff games. His career postseason OPS is a whopping 1.328.

“I feel like I’m in a great place,” he said. “Playoff baseball is definitely different, and I’m looking forward to that adrenaline.”

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SAN DIEGO — The Padres will enter their final home series of the regular season with one goal: Earn another series at home next week.

San Diego wrapped up an eventful three-game set against Milwaukee with a 3-1 loss on Wednesday afternoon. On Monday, the Padres clinched their place in the postseason. On Tuesday, they ensured theyâ€d finish no lower than the No. 5 seed in the National League.

But with their loss in the finale, the Padres made things difficult on themselves in the race for home-field advantage in next weekâ€s Wild Card Series. As of the final out on Wednesday, they trailed both the Dodgers and Cubs by two games. The Padres (87-72) have three games left in their regular season — against the Diamondbacks this weekend at Petco Park. (Both L.A. and Chicago have five left, counting their own games on Wednesday evening.)

Catching the Dodgers for the NL West title now seems like a particularly tall task, given that Los Angeles owns that tiebreaker. If the Padres canâ€t reel in L.A., theyâ€re bound for a Wild Card Series against the Cubs next week. The likeliest location for that series is still Wrigley Field, but the Padres would at least own that tiebreaker if they can make up two games on Chicago in the coming days.

Right-hander Dylan Cease pitched five innings of one-run ball with eight strikeouts on Wednesday in his final tuneup before the postseason. But it remains unclear how Cease might fit into the Padres†Wild Card Series plans.

With his performance on Wednesday, Ceaseâ€s ERA sits at 4.55. Thatâ€s not a number befitting Dylan Cease, and the truth is, he probably got a bit unlucky along the way. Heâ€ll also be the first to admit that he hasnâ€t been nearly consistent enough.

Manager Mike Shildt has more or less already tabbed Nick Pivetta as his Game 1 starter. It seems most likely that Michael King would start Game 2. Thereâ€s an opening for Game 3, and Cease is an obvious candidate to fill it (alongside Yu Darvish and Randy Vásquez). But the Padres canâ€t afford some of the blow-ups that Cease has been prone to this season.

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SAN DIEGO — In the home clubhouse at Petco Park, they set up sheets of plastic around the lockers, then wheeled in the tubs of beer and champagne. There was a speech from the manager, then screaming and laughing and liquids flying around the room from all angles. They took pictures together and sang and hugged. When it was done, they spilled onto the field to revel in the moment with their families.

Itâ€s one thing to get here; moments like this one have been rare for most of the Padres†history. Itâ€s another thing to make it a habit.

But here they are again. The Padres are going to the playoffs. Back to the playoffs.

With their dramatic 5-4 victory over the Brewers in 11 innings on Monday night at Petco Park, San Diego punched its ticket to the postseason for a second straight year. Thatâ€s no small achievement. It marks the first time the Padres have put together back-to-back playoff appearances since 2005-06.

“Itâ€s pretty special,†said star third baseman Manny Machado. “Hell yeah, itâ€s special.â€

Said manager Mike Shildt: “We’re in — I think right in the beginning of — the best era of Padres baseball.â€

If anything, this season only solidifies it. The Padres have reached the postseason for the fourth time in six years. Theyâ€ve spent more than half a decade as perennial contenders. Theyâ€ve entrenched themselves as one of the National Leagueâ€s heavyweights.

Now, for that elusive next step. The Padres are eyeing the first World Series in franchise history, and Step 1 is complete.

“We feel like we have a team that can win the whole thing,†said general manager A.J. Preller. “It starts by getting in. Thatâ€s the first part.â€

With the roster Preller constructed — then reinforced at the Trade Deadline — the Padres certainly like their chances. If anything, Mondayâ€s clincher served only to reinforce the importance of the moves Preller made at the Deadline.

It was newcomer Freddy Fermin who laced a walk-off single in the 11th — the first time in franchise history the Padres clinched their playoff spot with a walk-off. Collectively, they spilled out of the home dugout to mob Fermin just beyond the infield dirt. Another sellout crowd at Petco Park erupted.

“That moment — thatâ€s special,†Fermin said afterward in the clubhouse, in between dousings from Luis Arraez, then Adrian Morejon. “I put the swing [that] put my team in the postseason.â€

Ferminâ€s arrival, of course, came on a frenzied Deadline day that saw Preller swing six trades involving 22 players. Those moves seemed to address practically all of the teamâ€s flaws.

The lineup grew significantly deeper with the additions of Fermin, Ramón Laureano and Ryan Oâ€Hearn. An already excellent relief corps became one of the most fearsome in recent memory with the addition of Mason Miller. Itâ€s the type of bullpen that wins in October.

Thatâ€s where the Padres are headed. Thereâ€s still a chance they could host a Wild Card Series, if they can reel in either the Dodgers or the Cubs over the next six days. They trail both by 2 1/2 games (and would win a tiebreaker over the Cubs but have already lost their tiebreaker with the Dodgers).

Wherever that series is played, it sounds like the Padres already know whoâ€s going to take the ball. On Monday, Nick Pivetta completed one of the most impressive debut seasons in Padres history. He wasnâ€t at his sharpest, allowing three second-inning runs, but he kept the Padres in the game from there and worked 5 2/3 solid frames.

“Nick was a warrior tonight,†Shildt said. “And heâ€ll be set up for, most likely, Game 1.â€

Presuming thatâ€s all for Pivetta this (regular) season, he finished with a 2.87 ERA across 31 starts with 190 strikeouts to just 50 walks. He has been a steadying presence in a rotation that has been in flux seemingly all summer. Pivetta would have a weekâ€s worth of rest before he takes the ball next.

“This is just the beginning step,†Pivetta said. “This is a great thing. We accomplished some great stuff. … But we have a lot of work in front of us.â€

Still, Monday offered a chance for the Padres to pause and celebrate what theyâ€ve accomplished thus far. Itâ€s only the ninth trip to the postseason in their 57-season history. After a disappointing exit in 2024, they earned their way back.

The pitching staff dealt with injuries to Michael King, Yu Darvish and Jason Adam. Their lineup was hit with its share of attrition, too. Heck, Fernando Tatis Jr. wasnâ€t even there to celebrate, as he battles an illness that might keep him out of the lineup for another day or two. (Machado FaceTimed Tatis into the celebration.)

“It has not been a straight line,†Shildt said. “Itâ€s been grindy. But that makes it even more special.â€

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Sep 23, 2025, 01:23 AM ET

SAN DIEGO — The San Diego Padres are headed back to the playoffs for the fourth time in six seasons.

The Padres clinched a playoff berth with a 5-4, 11-inning win against the three-time NL Central champion Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night.

Freddy Fermin, acquired from Kansas City at the trade deadline on July 31, singled in automatic runner Bryce Johnson with one out in the 11th to set off a wild celebration in front of a sellout crowd of 42,371 at Petco Park.

The Padres pulled to within 2½ games of the idle Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West race and 2½ games behind the idle Chicago Cubs in the race for the National League’s first of three wild-card spots.

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Manny Machado, shirtless, wearing sunglasses and drenched with beer and champagne, says he feels good about the team’s chances in the playoffs.

“Everything is different. But we’ve got heart,” Machado said. “Everybody wants it. It’s always a challenge. Baseball’s a challenge. It’s hard.”

Fermin was being interviewed when Machado stopped by and poured a shot of tequila into his mouth.

“I believe with this staff we have, we are going to the World Series,” said Fermin, a catcher. “It is very special, this moment. I don’t have words for this moment. Very special. First step, we’ve got to keep rolling this.”

The Padres’ road appears to be tougher than last year, when they swept the Atlanta Braves in a home wild-card series to earn a shot at the rival Dodgers. San Diego led 2-1 before their bats went so cold that they didn’t score in the last 24 innings as they lost the series in five games. The Dodgers went on to win the World Series.

“What this group has done this year, and even last year, to put this into place, and for us to go to the postseason two years in a row for the first time since 2005-06, is truly special,” second baseman Jake Cronenworth said.

If the current standings hold, the Padres would visit the Cubs for a best-of-three wild-card series. The winner would move into the division series against the Brewers, who clinched their third straight division title Sunday and are in the postseason for the seventh time in eight seasons.

Manny Machado celebrates the Padres’ postseason berth with president of baseball operations A.J. Preller. Machado says he feels good about the team’s chances: “Everything is different. But we’ve got heart. Everybody wants it. It’s always a challenge.” Gregory Bull/AP

It has been an interesting season for the Padres, who led the division for much of April before slipping back as they played .500 ball in May and sub-.500 ball in June. The Dodgers never could open a big lead, but the Padres never could regain the lead, except for brief stretches in August.

A.J. Preller, president of baseball operations and general manager, pulled off a major overhaul at the trade deadline on July 31, acquiring reliever Mason Miller from the Athletics, Fermin from Kansas City and outfielders Ryan O’Hearn and Ramon Laureano from the Orioles.

The Padres became the first big league team to send three relievers to the All-Star Game when Jason Adam, closer Robert Suarez and left-hander Adrian Morejon were selected for the Midsummer Classic. Adam went down because of a season-ending quadriceps injury on Sept. 1.

The Padres were prone to offensive slumps, particularly on the road.

But there were some defensive highlights, including several home run robberies by right fielder Fernando Tatis Jr.

Tatis missed Monday’s clincher because of an undisclosed illness, but Machado included his teammate in the postgame celebration via FaceTime on his phone.

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