Three keys that could decide the Padres’ Postseason run
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Breaking down three keys that could decide the Padres’ postseason run in 2026
The 2026 San Diego Padres finished with a record of 91-71. Finishing 41-18 in their final 59 regular-season games, San Diego finds themselves in the top National League Wild Card spot and is hosting a best-of-three Wild Card series against the Chicago Cubs starting on Tuesday night.
The Cubs took the NL Wild Card series in Chicago against the Padres a season ago, and a year later, they meet again, this time at Petco Park.
Here’s what the Padres need to do well in order to advance to the National League Division Series and further in October.
King must pitch like an Ace
This may sound self-explanatory, but the Padres’ ace Michael King needs to lead this starting pitching staff.
King pitched great down the stretch in August and September, posting a 2.53 ERA in his final seven starts of the regular season, with a 4-2 record. With the lack of quality and consistent starting pitching from the team, King picked up much of the slack, becoming truly the one starting pitcher in the rotation that did not have a short leash and the one guy that could be depended on.
King going deep into games keeps the bullpen with the fifth-best ERA in MLB, fresh and ready to go throughout the month of October.
12 ? pic.twitter.com/PzGOD46Bex
— MLB (@MLB) October 2, 2024
Stars need to shine
Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Jackson Merrill all need to perform when it matters the most. In the Wild Card Series at Wrigley Field in 2025, Tatis Jr. went 1-for-12, and Machado went 1-for-10, in a series where the offense etched across just five runs.
Tatis Jr. and Merrill need to build off their .995 and .908 second-half OPSs, respectively. In a down regular season where Machado slugged 30 homers and drove in 91 runs, he will need to come up largely for this lineup, where he bats third.
FERNANDO TATIS JR. HITS THE FIRST HOME RUN OF THE 2024 #POSTSEASON ? pic.twitter.com/XFqQ06zWTT
— MLB (@MLB) October 2, 2024
Bullpen shuts it down after offense gets ahead
A year ago in the postseason, San Diego’s bats were cold. The late-season injury that kept Ramon Laureano off the Wild Card Series roster showed the true depth of the team in Chicago in October. The team truly struggled to find anything going offensively in the series.
Laureano is out once again.
The Padres come into the postseason with the team on a roll and winning games. This comes because of the offense that has kicked it up a notch in the second half. The Padres have a .781 OPS in the second half, in comparison to their .673 first-half OPS.
This is where the bullpen thrives and is needed, when the offense is putting up runs. When you hand the ball to one of Bradgley Rodriguez, Yuki Matsui, Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon, or Mason Miller with the lead, you feel pretty confident about the outcome of the game.
The last time Mason Miller faced the Cubs in the playoffs
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HBP9 batters faced. 8 strikeouts. pic.twitter.com/a1vSZUrvYF
— Baseball Bones (@baseballbonesYT) September 27, 2026
If the Padres want to win the first World Series in franchise history and the first major sports championship in San Diego history, these three factors will be essential in October.
Angel grew up a San Diego sports fan, following the Padres, SDSU athletics, San Diego FC, as well as the Chargers. He is currently a student at San Diego State University, majoring in Journalism with an emphasis in Public relations.