Since the trade deadline, the Padres have been one of the hottest teams in Major League Baseball with a recent sweep of the San Francisco Giants and two consecutive losses by the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Los Angeles Angels, San Diego took a slim 0.5-game lead at the top of the West, although Los Angeles could pull even again.
One of the keys to the Padres’ resurgence has been their dominant bullpen, bolstered by the addition of All-Star closer Mason Miller from the Athletics. “They already had the best bullpen and then they signed Mason Miller, it’s all under control,” analyst Sean Casey told MLB Network. San Diego paid a high price for Miller, but the gamble has paid off immediately with 12 strikeouts in 5.1 innings and one save.
Sean Casey analyzes the Dodgers vs. Padres duel: Who will dominate the NL West?
Analyst Sean Casey was impressed by San Diego’s recent performance, but does not rule out the current champions: “I still can’t give up on the Dodgers, but wow, the Padres are coming and they’re really good,” he said. And he added a clear warning: “When you’re a hitter, you have a lineup and you have to handle the bullpen at all times, it’s a real problem. That’s why the Padres have had that resurgence, thanks to that bullpen.”
While Robert Suarez remains the closer, Miller has been used in critical moments, giving the Padres a tactical flexibility that no team possesses right now. San Diego’s bullpen leads MLB in WAR and collective ERA.
Can the Dodgers hold on in the NL West?
With consecutive series against each other, the Dodgers and Padres will be playing for more than just the divisional lead, as they could be deciding who has a direct path to the postseason and who will have to fight to play in the Wild Card. Although Los Angeles has been a consistent powerhouse under Dave Roberts, San Diego is proving to be much more than a threat.
The predictions still slightly favor the Dodgers because of their experience and depth, but if the Padres keep up their pace, no one should be surprised if they take full control of the West.
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