Padres’ Deadline Pickups Fermin, Mason Miller Bolster NL West Hopes

The San Diego Padres are in the midst of a dramatic late-season surge. Hopes for their first National League West title in nearly two decades are suddenly alive again.

They’ve won 12 of their last 15 games. Monday’s 4-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants was crucial and has pulled them within just one game of the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers.

The roster looks stronger after some bold Trade Deadline moves. With a closing schedule packed with division rivals, San Diego is setting itself up for a finish that could define their 2024 season.

Padres Narrow the Gap in the NL West

Monday’s win against San Francisco couldn’t have come at a better time. The Dodgers lost to the Angels that same night, so the Padres sliced LA’s lead to just one game.

This is the closest San Diego has been to first place after the All-Star break since 2010. That stat alone really shows how rare and big this moment is for the franchise.

Starting pitcher Yu Darvish gave manager Bob Melvin exactly what he needed. Darvish tossed six strong innings and allowed just one run.

He stayed composed and kept the Padres in it. The team finally broke through in the seventh inning, blowing the game wide open.

The Deadline Deals Pay Immediate Dividends

Padres GM A.J. Preller made waves at the July 31 Trade Deadline. He pulled off five trades involving 22 players, determined to make San Diego deeper and more dangerous.

The top of the batting order and the rotation were already strong. But the bottom of the lineup and bullpen? Not so much.

On Monday night, those new faces stepped up:

• Mason Miller — the new fireballer — struck out the side in a dominant eighth inning.
• Freddy Fermin — the recently added catcher — smashed his first home run as a Padre, capping a three-run seventh.
• Jeremiah Estrada and Robert Suarez teamed up with Miller for three flawless relief innings.

Bottom of the Order Sparks the Offense

The rally in the seventh came entirely from the bottom third of the batting order. Earlier in the season, that part of the lineup had been a real problem, making runs hard to come by.

Preller brought in players like Fermin and, honestly, it looks like he fixed that weakness just in time. Suddenly, the bottom of the order is a weapon for the playoff push.

A Pivotal Division Run Awaits

The Padres’ schedule offers zero breathing room. They’re about to start a 13-game stretch, all against NL West opponents.

That stretch includes six games each against the Giants and Dodgers. These matchups could totally flip the standings.

San Diego also trails the Chicago Cubs by just one game for the top Wild Card seed. Grabbing that spot would mean home-field advantage in the opening playoff round, which could be huge for a team that’s thrived at Petco Park.

Can the Padres Make History?

A quarter of the regular season is still left. The Padres’ path is simple: beat the Dodgers head-to-head, take care of business in the division, and keep the August momentum rolling.

The pitching staff looks sharp. The offense is finally dangerous from top to bottom. Maybe, just maybe, San Diego’s ready to finally break LA’s grip on the NL West crown.

The Defining Series Ahead

All eyes are on the upcoming Padres-Dodgers series. The stakes couldn’t be higher.

A strong showing might tilt the division race in San Diego’s favor. On the other hand, a stumble could mean settling for a Wild Card berth.

Padres fans have every reason to believe they’re witnessing one of the most thrilling finishes in franchise history. From Darvish’s steady hand to Fermin’s timely power, there’s plenty to get excited about.

The bullpen suddenly looks like one of the league’s best. This team feels built to finish strong.

 
Here is the source article for this story: Padres’ NL West chances grow with contributions from Deadline pickups