Postseason FAQ: What's next for the Padres?
AJ Cassavell
@AJCassavellOne week after the Padres became the first team in baseball history to clinch a spot in the playoffs with a game-ending triple play, their postseason run is set to begin Tuesday evening at Petco Park.
Their opponent in the National League Wild Card Series? The Atlanta Braves.
The Mets and Braves split a doubleheader Monday, making up two games that were postponed due to inclement weather, resulting in Atlanta visiting Petco Park as the fifth seed.
"We just need to do us," said Padres left fielder Jurickson Profar. "Whoever we're playing, we're playing."
Here¡¯s a look at what to expect and what lies ahead for the playoff-bound Padres:
What could the postseason roster look like?
Here¡¯s one guess:
C: Kyle Higashioka, Elias Díaz
1B: Luis Arraez, Donovan Solano
2B: Jake Cronenworth
3B: Manny Machado
SS: Xander Bogaerts, Nick Ahmed
OF: Fernando Tatis Jr., Jackson Merrill, Jurickson Profar, David Peralta, Brandon Lockridge
UTIL: Tyler Wade
SP: Michael King, Dylan Cease, Joe Musgrove, Yu Darvish
RP: Robert Suarez, Tanner Scott, Jason Adam, Jeremiah Estrada, Adrian Morejon, Bryan Hoeing, Wandy Peralta, Martín Pérez
How can I get tickets?
Details for Padres postseason tickets can be found here.
What are the biggest roster questions?
Shortstop Ha-Seong Kim is slated to undergo shoulder surgery, ruling him out for a potential postseason roster spot. Bogaerts has moved to shortstop in Kim's absence, and the Padres recently selected the contract of Ahmed to serve as their backup shortstop. It's unclear whether Ahmed would get a roster spot.
There are also minor questions in the bullpen -- and perhaps a question as to whether they would carry 12 pitchers or 13. Plus, with only three games in a Wild Card Series, it's worth wondering whether the Padres would leave their fourth starter -- Darvish, potentially -- off the roster entirely, saving him for a possible NL Division Series Game 1.
Manager Mike Shildt noted that the Padres' Round 1 opponent likely wouldn't dictate the construction of the roster or the rotation.
What might the Padres¡¯ postseason rotation look like?
King has a strong case to feature toward the top of a postseason rotation, given that he has posted a 2.15 ERA since the All-Star break. The Padres seem likely to roll with some combination of King-Cease-Musgrove. That would leave Darvish as the odd man out.
As Musgrove recently said: ¡°This is the problem you want to have -- having one too many arms over one too few.¡±
When do the playoffs start?
Each Wild Card Series begins with Game 1 scheduled for Tuesday. The Braves and Padres square off at 5:38 p.m. PT on ESPN.