There is only one first-round playoff series remaining, and it will be decided tonight when the Padres and Cardinals complete their matchup in Game 3. The Padres entered with the far better record (37-23 against 30-28), but injuries to top starters Dinelson Lamet and Mike Clevinger – who have been unavailable – have impacted the series.
With Lamet and Clevinger on the shelf, San Diego turned to Chris Paddack and Zach Davies in the first two games, but the pair struggled. The team’s now so short on options that it will tap reliever Craig Stammen as the opener in a bullpen game Friday. The Cardinals, meanwhile, will have Jack Flaherty on the hill. Flaherty went through a very disappointing regular season, though he’s only a year removed from serving as one of the league’s most valuable starters.
On the offensive side, the Fernando Tatis Jr.-led Padres finished the season with one of the game’s most potent attacks, ranking third in runs and fifth in wRC+. The Cardinals weren’t nearly as good (28th in runs, 19th in wRC+), but the Paul Goldschmidt-helmed outfit has outscored the Padres 16-15 in the series.
The game’s about to get underway. Which team do you expect to advance? (Poll link for app users)
Padres.
Cardinals
Less filling.
Tastes great!
I went from watching a beer commercial from the 80s, to watching Frank Caliendo do impersonations of John Madden. Gotta love YouTube.
Hey, you’re Boog Powell!
Hey, you’re Kyle Schwarbers mom!
Maybe Dad?
Didn’t age well. Padres win. shutdown in a pen game
ESPNHD is so disrespectful that when Trevor Rosenthal struck out Austin Dean in the ninth they didn’t show the dugout of the Cardinals. At least they need to show it for a bit. I stayed watching the game to see the reactions of the Cardinals.
Cards fans don’t know disrespect. Disrespect is being a fan of a west coast team and ESPN never talks about any team west of the rockies.
Amen to that!!!! Padres fan here but even when the Giants won 3 WS, they have never gotten the credit they deserve. Central teams got 7 combined teams in this year. They’re all out. West teams got 4 teams in. They all advanced.
Hmmm. That’s interesting. I’m on the East Coast, but I felt like the Giants were everywhere during their winning years. The Dodgers are always everywhere. Amd I felt this year the Padres were media darling because of the young talent. Obviously the Yankees are always shoved down everyone’s throat, buy I definitely think the WC is getting their proper credit.
Disrespect is both of your WC games being played during the day. I had to use Gameday on my phone to follow them.
Agreed. I was very annoyed the Braves had both their games at the earliest time. I’m sure they’ll have the worst time slot again for this next round, I imagine the Braves/Marlins series is the least interesting nation wide.
This is great to know. I know tatis was defended by everyone after his 3-0 slam. Yes, on the West Coast everyone is tired of the Yankees getting all of the attention. I am so happy to hear that my Padres, thanks to Tatis flare, are getting a lot of love out there.
PADRES!
Might as well sweep all the Central Division teams out of the playoffs.
Can you imagine that have 7 teams in and all 7 teams lose first round.
Kind of like the Big Twelve in bowl games.
Please Padres. Cardinals are so boring
Hey Bryant how did your series go?
Same as the Cardinals. both going home early.
Id take flaherty any day of the week, even if he’s had a down “year”. Predicting Matt Carpenter to hit a bomb… and cards fans… who is Dylan Carlson and why is he batting 4th? What am I missing?
Top 10 prospect. Raked to finish the year. Dude can mash
Cardinals know how to win big games. Padres have a much better chance beating the Dodgers so I will root for them, but I’ll go Cards because they are the Cards.
cards 1026 wins vs dodgers 1025. I still go Cards
Wrong again, Ernie!
So far all team’s advancing play against division rivals. Would love to keep it going, Padres vs. Dodgers would be nice if Limet and Clevenger were both 100%. Still today’s game should favor Cards.
Padres have the momentum after a big comeback game. I’ll take SD for the win.
Hoping the Cardinals advance and beat the Dodgers, and the Braves beat the Marlins. The Cardinals have had the Braves’ number for far too long, and I’d like for the Braves to have a chance to redeem themselves.
The best thing about no fans is the absence of that obnoxious Braves chop. So lame.
I’m a Braves fan, and I agree. It won’t return.
I actually love the idea of a unified, obnoxious chant, but the chop was problematic and will retire.
Chop was awesome. Better than the Braves stupid “For the A” crap.
#mixitup
The chop was great, 30 years ago.
Which ever one has best chance to beat Trolley Dodgers.
The bitterness toward a team that was bankrupt 8 years ago is hilarious
You’re just mad our owner spends+scouts like yours refuses to lolol
That’s unintelligible….”lololol”
Your hatred and continued need to complain about it, is unintelligible
IDK, I have a weird Cards feeling tho.
Wronggggg.
If Stammen doesn’t get shelled and the other relievers can hold the line, Padres have a chance.
Padres starting pitching is pretty thin after Clevinger and Lamet. Paddack could still be a solid pitcher, but he has been overhyped and has a gopher ball problem.
i just realized, why isnt Garrett Richards starting? why go with a BP game when you have him.
Are the results of this poll binding? If not, what exactly is the point?
does it really matter?
Cards choked yesterday up 6-2 so if they lose today they can look at what could of been. No excuse with that bullpen. MLB desperately wants padres dodgers so who ever wins that most likely wins the nl and goes to ws
they one upped themselves tonight. three called strikeouts in the ninth
Both probably miss playoffs in a full season
Mets miss the playoffs during a full season and half season. Theyd miss the playoffs if there wasn’t even a season.
The Mets would manage to miss the playoffs if they were the only team in the league.
Padres wouldn’t. They would’ve finished with the top wild card.
I knew they lost this when they gave up game 2…should have not lost that lead
great effort Cardinals! Bring on the Dodgers
Cardinal bats sure went quietly last night. Frustrating after watching them swing-and-zing in the first two games.
Still like the Cardinals to be the top team in the NL Central next year. Only flaw is, they gotta settle on who the heck will play in their outfield. Carlson looks like a keeper and should start.
The jury should not still be out on O’Neill and Bader, but it is. Just when you think they aren’t worthy MLB players, they do something special that makes you think twice.
Don’t know if Molina comes back next year. He can’t play forever. To wit, Father Time is still undefeated.
Lastly, condolences to all Cardinal fans after losing Bob Gibson. I saw him pitch back in the ’60s at old Connie Mack Stadium against my Phillies, and, of course, many times on TV.
RIP: Bob Gibson
You lost me at “swing and zing.”
But yeah, the Cards were pathetic on offense last night.
Your post was well-written and solid overall, Lou. I was just teasing about those choice of words. I agree with you
Both Central divisions had quite a bad showing. Not surprised.
Chief:
I’m old. Will be 75 in three weeks. Get to that stage and you’re allowed to make up words. I think George Burns said that. On second thought, maybe it was Bob Dylan.