T
A fan wearing a Mexican hat bearing the San Diego Padres logo is seen ahead of the MLB World Tour Mexico City Series game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres at Alfredo Harp Helu Stadium in Mexico City on April 26, 2026. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images)
AFP via Getty Images
San Diego Padres players and fans will be watching the scoreboard until the Major League Baseball season ends on September 27.
The Padres are trying hard to close in on a 2026 National League Playoff berth.
At the start of play September 14, the Padres had opened up a lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks for the third, and final National League Wild Card entry.
The Padres had won seven consecutive games before playing a four game series at Coors Field in Colorado.
The Padres went 8-2 in their last 10 games. The Diamondbacks played to a 6-4 record.
The two teams play each other in San Diego to end the season.
The San Diego Padres can look at three very powerful sluggers in their lineup as one of the primary reasons for their success.
San Diego Padres Three Impact Bats:
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 09: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated in the dugout after scoring a run during the third inning against the Washington Nationals at Petco Park on September 09, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
Getty Images
San Diego Padres Fernando Tatis Jr.:
According to fangraphs.com Fernando Tatis Jr. hits in the leadoff position for the Padres.
The right-handed hitting Padres right fielder, Tatis Jr., 30, is coming off five games in which he got nine hits in 19 at-bats. They included a triple and a home run.
Here is Tatis Jr.’s stat line through and including September 14:
.289/.358/.459/.817
Through 649 plate appearances, Tatis Jr. has 29 doubles, three triples, 21 home runs, and 75 RBIs. He has stolen 35 bases, being caught 13 times.
Tatis Jr. struck out 119 times in those 649 trips to the plate. For a guy with his impact, that is a highly credible statistic.
Tatis Jr. was an All Star in 2021, 2024, and 2025. He also won two Gold Gloves, in 2023, and last season.
San Diego Padres’ Manny Machado celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run against the San Francisco Giants during the second inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
San Diego Padres Manny Machado:
fangraphs.com lists Machado hitting 3rd in the Padres lineup.
The right-handed hitting Padres third baseman, Machado, 34, has had another outstanding season for the Padres.
In a September 13 victory agains the San Francisco Giants, Machado homered and knocked in two runs.
Machado, 6-2, 218 pounds, has played parts of 15 big league season, the last eight with the Padres.
Machado is a seven time All Star, a three-time Silver Slugger, and a two-time Gold Glove winner.
This season, Machado has a stat line of .221/.311/.413/.724, with 22 doubles, and 27 home runs in 621 plate appearances. Machado has stolen five bases.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 26: Jackson Merrill #3 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated in the dugout after scoring a run during the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Petco Park on August 26, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
Getty Images
San Diego Padres Jackson Merrill:
fangraphs.com lists Jackson Merrill hitting 5th in the Padres lineup
The left-handed hitting Padres centerfielder, Merrill, 23, is the youngster of the trio.
Merrill was a 1st round draft pick of the Padres in 2021, and has been a remarkably steady factor in Padres success since his big league debut in 2024.
In his last five games, Merrill had 9 hits in 21 at-bats. In the Padres 9-2 victory against the Washington Nationals September 9, Merrill had 4 hits in 5 plate appearances. They included a double, 2 home runs, 6 RBIs, and a stolen base.
Merrill is 6-2, 195 pounds, and has and outstanding power/speed combination.
Merrill was an All Star in his rookie, 2024 season. He also won a Silver Slugger Award.
So far this year, Merrill has a stat line of .248/.298/.439/.737, with 25 doubles, 4 triples, 25 home runs, 82 RBIs and 26 stolen bases. He has only been caught three times.
Merrill is the perfect five-hole hitter, as chances are good that either, or both Tatis Jr. or Manny Machado will be on base for Merrill to drive home.
The San Diego Padres’ logo is seen on a player jersey during a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Wednesday, April 27, 2022. The Padres won 8-5. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Conclusions About San Diego Padres Three Powerful, Impactful Sluggers:
San Diego Padres baseball is getting interesting!
The Padres are loaded with excellent offensive weapons, and a very credible pitching staff.
The team is making a September push for the playoffs.
mlb.com lists the following remaining schedule for San Diego:
September 15, 16, 17 at Colorado Rockies
September 18, 19, 20, at home vs Miami Marlins
September 21-off day
September 22, 23, 24 at Los Angeles Dodgers
September 25, 26, 27 at home vs. Arizona Diamondbacks to end the season, and those games could decide the final NL Wild Card entry.
The schedule is demanding. Wins of course, are not guaranteed.
However, led by Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Jackson Merrill on offense, the Padres are looking good in the final two weeks.
The three San Diego Padres sluggers are leading the Padres relentless quest for a 2026 National League Playoff berth.
Leave a comment