As the 2024 MLB postseason begins, the San Diego Padres are a team nobody will want to play. 

There is no guarantee in Major League Baseball.

However, as this is being written, the San Diego Padres are a virtual lock with a 99 percent chance of making the 2024 postseason (according to Fangraphs).

An epic failure is the only thing that could doom the Padres with a little over ten games to play. The team missed the playoffs last season as there was no cohesiveness on the roster. The 2024 team is the polar opposite, with chemistry flourishing in the Padres locker room. They should be able to finish the season on a positive note.

A little over a month ago, the Padres looked to be in trouble as Joe Musgrove and Yu Darvish were both on the I.L. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Ha-Seong Kim were also shelved with injuries. The Padres were fighting to keep their heads above water. Their starting pitching seemed like a major concern moving forward.

As Darvish and Musgrove resumed play this month, all eyes were on the two men. Since Musgrove returned in August, he has allowed ten earned runs in seven starts and 34 innings pitched. Darvish has not fared as well, surrendering five earned runs in his first two starts back from his leave (7.2 innings). However, Darvish did throw six shutout innings against the Astros on Monday, proving that his arm and stuff are rounding into form.

The duo looks poised to contribute at the tail end of the season, and more importantly, the Padres rotation has viable pitchers they can rely on in a postseason series. Teamed with Dylan Cease and Michael King, the Padres possess four pitchers who you can be comfortable utilizing in the playoffs.

With four decent pitchers starting the game, the Padres seriously only need to get five innings out of them and the lead. Tanner Scott and Jason Adam were obtained at the trade deadline, along with Bryan Hoeing. This trio, included in the mix with Robert Suarez, Jeremiah Estrada, and Adrian Morejon, gives San Diego arguably the best bullpen in the league. The incredible depth in this bullpen cannot be matched.

With an assembled pitching staff like that, the team only needs to score runs to secure wins.

Thankfully, as a collective unit, the Padres are playing better baseball and giving quality at-bats. They have an excellent combination of right-handed hitters and left-handed hitters and possess a deep lineup. Jackson Merrill will likely win the N.L. Rookie of the Year Award, and he has batted seventh for most of the season. The team simply hasn’t needed to move him up in the lineup.

Luis Arraez, at the top of the order, is intimidating to N.L. teams as the reigning batting champ sets the table for Jurickson Profar, Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis, Xander Bogaerts, and Jake Cronenworth. The Padres are deep in their lineup, and instead of relying on one or two players to carry you offensively, they rely on each other and move along runners for the next guy. It is refreshing to watch as the team is never out of any game. They lead the league in come-from-behind wins, as the no-quit attitude is infectious.

There are veterans on the bench this season as well. Players like Donovan Solano and David Peralta give quality at-bats each time they come to the plate. Tyler Wade can play all over the baseball diamond and has plus speed with excellent bunting skills. With the recent addition of Elias Diaz, the Padres brought in a catcher who won the 2023 MLB All-Star Game MVP. He is no slouch. Diaz’s numbers are down this year, but anything can happen in the playoffs.

There are no noticeable weaknesses on the San Diego Padres. A.J. Preller learned from his past mistakes when constructing a playoff-worthy roster. It is a special time in San Diego. This is not only because of the conclusion of this season but also because the Padres were built for longstanding success. The 2024 season is not their only window of opportunity.

This postseason, the Padres are a team nobody wants to play. There is just so much talent on this dangerous team.

Being dangerous is great. Having depth is wonderful.

But it is all about results. The Padres are built to win now, and anything else will be deemed a failure.

We will see what happens.

James Clark

James was born and raised in America’s Finest City. He is a passionate baseball fan with even more passion towards his hometown Padres. Editor-In-Chief of EastVillageTimes.com. Always striving to bring you the highest quality in San Diego Sports News. Original content, with original ideas, that’s our motto. Enjoy.