San Diego clinches a playoff berth with a 5-4, 11-inning win over Milwaukee, rolling within 2.5 games of the Dodgers in the NL West and the Cubs for the NL's top wild-card spot. A postseason path looms, potentially opening at Wrigley if standings hold, before a division-series showdown with Milwaukee if that bracket holds.

The Padres’ surge follows a deadline overhaul by GM A.J. Preller, adding Mason Miller, Freddy Fermin, and outfielders Ryan O’Hearn and Ramon Laureano. Three Padres relievers—Jason Adam, Robert Suárez, and Adrián Morejón—earned All-Star nods, though Adam later suffered a season-ending quadriceps injury.

Padres drop a close one to Reds as the bullpen yields two late runs, negating a stellar start from Nick Pivetta.

Pivetta's form boosts fantasy cases; Michael King’s health is a key swing factor for the rotation.

Xander Bogaerts, Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr. pace the lineup, while Yu Darvish anchors the staff and could push for DFS value.

Jason Adam's status looms large as the Padres seek bullpen stability for a late-season run.

Padres lose All-Star reliever Jason Adam to a ruptured quad tendon, likely shelving him for the 2025 season on a 7–9 month timeline, a brutal blow as San Diego fights to catch the Dodgers in the NL West. The bullpen shift opens door for Mason Miller, acquired from Oakland, to step into high- leverage roles and stabilize a unit now without Adam’s steady workhorse presence. Adam posted a 1.81 ERA across 64.2 innings with 69 strikeouts and just 4 homers this season, underscoring how heavy a dent his absence will make.

Manager Mike Shildt and Miller voiced optimism about filling the void, praising Adam as a cornerstone and signaling Miller’s immediate impact as a righty reliever. The Orioles visit Petco Park for two more games, and San Diego must press on without their shutdown option as they chase the Dodgers. Adam’s injury narrative adds urgency to the Padres’ bullpen plans and emphasizes how quickly a team’s trajectory can hinge on a single non-contact breakdown.