San Diego’s season ended in a tense, controversial finish as a late strike call by D.J. Reyburn helped Chicago pull away in Game 3. The Padres’ offense stalled across the series, totaling just five runs and going 3-for-26 with runners in scoring position, leaving 19 on base as frustration spilled from the dugout.

ABS arrives next year, a potential game‑changer for postseason calls, but San Diego’s immediate takeaway is accountability for the umpiring and a call that altered the moment. Bogaerts, Tatis Jr., and Machado scuffled, underscoring the need for more run production to complement the pitching depth that carried the Cubs.

San Diego clinches a playoff berth in dramatic 11th inning fashion as Freddy Fermin drives in the automatic runner Bryce Johnson, sparking raucous celebrations at Petco Park. Manny Machado anchors the moment with a confidence that the Padres can win a World Series, even as the roster reshapes after the July deadline.

The club, buoyed by A.J. Preller’s deadline overhauls—Fermin, Mason Miller, Ryan O’Hearn and Ramon Laureano—narrows the gap on the Dodgers and Cubs, setting up a postseason path that could include a best-of-three visit to Chicago before a potential rematch with Milwaukee. Tatis Jr. punctuates the highlights with rugged defense, while the rotation and bullpen pieces build a postseason profile.

San Diego clinched a playoff berth with an 11‑inning 5‑4 win over Milwaukee, as Freddy Fermin delivered the go‑ahead RBI and Manny Machado celebrated with a beer‑soaked rally. The win narrows the Padres’ gap to the Dodgers in the NL West and to the Cubs for the NL’s first wild‑card spot, setting up a potential wild‑card clash after a season of mid‑market upheaval.

San Diego rebuilt at the deadline, adding Mason Miller, Fermin, Ryan O’Hearn and Ramon Laureano, and became the first team to send three relievers (Jason Adam, Robert Suárez, Adrian Morejón) to the All‑Star Game. If the standings hold, the Padres would visit the Cubs in a best‑of‑three wild card, with a path toward a rematch with Milwaukee in the division series.