Latest news with #NLChampionshipSeries
San Francisco Chronicle
2 days ago
- Sport
- San Francisco Chronicle
Padres believe all their close wins have helped prepare them for 1st matchups with Dodgers this year
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The San Diego Padres are about to face the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time since their memorable NL Division Series matchup. They believe all the close games they've played lately prepared them for this test. San Diego's last seven games have been decided by a total of eight runs, a stretch that continued Sunday when Manny Machado's seventh-inning homer gave the Padres a 1-0 win and series victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. 'We know who we're going to run up against, and we definitely got ready for it this week,' Machado said. This run of close games actually started earlier than that. Thirteen of San Diego's last 14 games featured a margin of no more than two runs, and the Padres have gone 9-5 during that stretch. 'These are kind of the games we've been playing the last 2½ weeks here now,' infielder Jake Cronenworth said. 'They're just kind of become the norm for us. I think (if) you can win these one-run games and win them late – good pitching, good defense and timely hitting – that's kind of the recipe for success.' Now they finally get to measure themselves against the Dodgers in seven of their next 10 games. The Padres and Dodgers begin a three-game series Monday at San Diego before meeting again in Los Angeles for a four-game set starting June 16. The Padres are a game behind the Dodgers in the NL West standings after both teams won Sunday. 'It's crazy that we haven't faced them,' reliever Jason Adam said.. 'I'm excited for the series. I'd take this team over any team in baseball, top to bottom. I'd go to battle with them against anybody, so I'm excited for the series. Yeah, that's our focus. We took care of business here. Now, fly home and take care of business there.' How unusual is it for these NL West foes to wait this long before facing off? Aside from the pandemic-delayed season of 2020, the last time the Dodgers and Padres didn't meet until this late in a season was 2000. 'I used to think about the schedule and look at it and then think, 'Wow, that's odd,' ' manager Mike Shildt said. 'And then I started taking a holistic picture of the schedule. The schedule's got to be a nightmare to put together. There's just going to be quirks in it.' This has become one of baseball's top rivalries, thanks in part to their recent postseason showdowns. San Diego defeated the top-seeded Dodgers 3-1 in the 2022 NL Division Series before losing 4-1 to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Championship Series. Last year, the Padres had the Dodgers on the brink of elimination before falling 3-2 in the NL Division Series. The Padres led that series 2-1 and had a chance to close it out at home, but they fell 8-0 as eight Dodgers pitchers combined on a shutout. The Dodgers then returned home to win 2-0 in Game 5 as Yoshinobu Yamamoto outdueled Yu Darvish. Darvish hasn't pitched for San Diego yet this season as the 38-year-old right-hander recovers from inflammation in his throwing elbow, but the Padres still have an outstanding pitching staff. San Diego has allowed a total of 15 runs over its last seven games and has three shutouts in that span. Sunday marked the Padres' MLB-leading 12th shutout of the season. The Padres have needed that stellar pitching because their lineup has struggled at times. Machado has gone 12 of 31 this month and has three homers in his last four games, but two-time All-Star Fernando Tatis Jr. is hitting .185 since the start of May. That combination of impressive pitching and inconsistent hitting is producing plenty of close games, and the Padres are winning most of them. They're hoping that provides a long-term payoff. 'I think it's not only a help for (preparing for) the Dodgers,' Adam said. 'It's a help for all the future. It's a help for the playoffs. Very rarely are you blowing out a team in the playoffs. Of course, we love blowouts when they happen, and we love winning by 20, but the reality is there's a lot of important games played that are really close. A team that can battle together and win those games is special. That's what we have here.'
Hamilton Spectator
2 days ago
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
Padres believe all their close wins have helped prepare them for 1st matchups with Dodgers this year
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The San Diego Padres are about to face the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time since their memorable NL Division Series matchup. They believe all the close games they've played lately prepared them for this test. San Diego's last seven games have been decided by a total of eight runs, a stretch that continued Sunday when Manny Machado's seventh-inning homer gave the Padres a 1-0 win and series victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. 'We know who we're going to run up against, and we definitely got ready for it this week,' Machado said. This run of close games actually started earlier than that. Thirteen of San Diego's last 14 games featured a margin of no more than two runs, and the Padres have gone 9-5 during that stretch. 'These are kind of the games we've been playing the last 2 1/2 weeks here now,' infielder Jake Cronenworth said. 'They're just kind of become the norm for us. I think (if) you can win these one-run games and win them late – good pitching, good defense and timely hitting – that's kind of the recipe for success.' Now they finally get to measure themselves against the Dodgers in seven of their next 10 games. The Padres and Dodgers begin a three-game series Monday at San Diego before meeting again in Los Angeles for a four-game set starting June 16. The Padres are a game behind the Dodgers in the NL West standings after both teams won Sunday. 'It's crazy that we haven't faced them,' reliever Jason Adam said.. 'I'm excited for the series. I'd take this team over any team in baseball, top to bottom. I'd go to battle with them against anybody, so I'm excited for the series. Yeah, that's our focus. We took care of business here. Now, fly home and take care of business there.' How unusual is it for these NL West foes to wait this long before facing off? Aside from the pandemic-delayed season of 2020, the last time the Dodgers and Padres didn't meet until this late in a season was 2000. 'I used to think about the schedule and look at it and then think, 'Wow, that's odd,' ' manager Mike Shildt said. 'And then I started taking a holistic picture of the schedule. The schedule's got to be a nightmare to put together. There's just going to be quirks in it.' This has become one of baseball's top rivalries, thanks in part to their recent postseason showdowns. San Diego defeated the top-seeded Dodgers 3-1 in the 2022 NL Division Series before losing 4-1 to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Championship Series. Last year, the Padres had the Dodgers on the brink of elimination before falling 3-2 in the NL Division Series. The Padres led that series 2-1 and had a chance to close it out at home, but they fell 8-0 as eight Dodgers pitchers combined on a shutout. The Dodgers then returned home to win 2-0 in Game 5 as Yoshinobu Yamamoto outdueled Yu Darvish. Darvish hasn't pitched for San Diego yet this season as the 38-year-old right-hander recovers from inflammation in his throwing elbow, but the Padres still have an outstanding pitching staff. San Diego has allowed a total of 15 runs over its last seven games and has three shutouts in that span. Sunday marked the Padres' MLB-leading 12th shutout of the season. The Padres have needed that stellar pitching because their lineup has struggled at times. Machado has gone 12 of 31 this month and has three homers in his last four games, but two-time All-Star Fernando Tatis Jr. is hitting .185 since the start of May. That combination of impressive pitching and inconsistent hitting is producing plenty of close games, and the Padres are winning most of them. They're hoping that provides a long-term payoff. 'I think it's not only a help for (preparing for) the Dodgers,' Adam said. 'It's a help for all the future. It's a help for the playoffs. Very rarely are you blowing out a team in the playoffs. Of course, we love blowouts when they happen, and we love winning by 20, but the reality is there's a lot of important games played that are really close. A team that can battle together and win those games is special. That's what we have here.' ___ AP MLB:
Fox Sports
2 days ago
- Sport
- Fox Sports
Padres believe all their close wins have helped prepare them for 1st matchups with Dodgers this year
Associated Press MILWAUKEE (AP) — The San Diego Padres are about to face the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time since their memorable NL Division Series matchup. They believe all the close games they've played lately prepared them for this test. San Diego's last seven games have been decided by a total of eight runs, a stretch that continued Sunday when Manny Machado's seventh-inning homer gave the Padres a 1-0 win and series victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. 'We know who we're going to run up against, and we definitely got ready for it this week,' Machado said. This run of close games actually started earlier than that. Thirteen of San Diego's last 14 games featured a margin of no more than two runs, and the Padres have gone 9-5 during that stretch. 'These are kind of the games we've been playing the last 2½ weeks here now,' infielder Jake Cronenworth said. 'They're just kind of become the norm for us. I think (if) you can win these one-run games and win them late – good pitching, good defense and timely hitting – that's kind of the recipe for success.' Now they finally get to measure themselves against the Dodgers in seven of their next 10 games. The Padres and Dodgers begin a three-game series Monday at San Diego before meeting again in Los Angeles for a four-game set starting June 16. The Padres are a game behind the Dodgers in the NL West standings after both teams won Sunday. 'It's crazy that we haven't faced them,' reliever Jason Adam said.. 'I'm excited for the series. I'd take this team over any team in baseball, top to bottom. I'd go to battle with them against anybody, so I'm excited for the series. Yeah, that's our focus. We took care of business here. Now, fly home and take care of business there.' How unusual is it for these NL West foes to wait this long before facing off? Aside from the pandemic-delayed season of 2020, the last time the Dodgers and Padres didn't meet until this late in a season was 2000. 'I used to think about the schedule and look at it and then think, 'Wow, that's odd,' ' manager Mike Shildt said. 'And then I started taking a holistic picture of the schedule. The schedule's got to be a nightmare to put together. There's just going to be quirks in it.' This has become one of baseball's top rivalries, thanks in part to their recent postseason showdowns. San Diego defeated the top-seeded Dodgers 3-1 in the 2022 NL Division Series before losing 4-1 to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Championship Series. Last year, the Padres had the Dodgers on the brink of elimination before falling 3-2 in the NL Division Series. The Padres led that series 2-1 and had a chance to close it out at home, but they fell 8-0 as eight Dodgers pitchers combined on a shutout. The Dodgers then returned home to win 2-0 in Game 5 as Yoshinobu Yamamoto outdueled Yu Darvish. Darvish hasn't pitched for San Diego yet this season as the 38-year-old right-hander recovers from inflammation in his throwing elbow, but the Padres still have an outstanding pitching staff. San Diego has allowed a total of 15 runs over its last seven games and has three shutouts in that span. Sunday marked the Padres' MLB-leading 12th shutout of the season. The Padres have needed that stellar pitching because their lineup has struggled at times. Machado has gone 12 of 31 this month and has three homers in his last four games, but two-time All-Star Fernando Tatis Jr. is hitting .185 since the start of May. That combination of impressive pitching and inconsistent hitting is producing plenty of close games, and the Padres are winning most of them. They're hoping that provides a long-term payoff. 'I think it's not only a help for (preparing for) the Dodgers,' Adam said. 'It's a help for all the future. It's a help for the playoffs. Very rarely are you blowing out a team in the playoffs. Of course, we love blowouts when they happen, and we love winning by 20, but the reality is there's a lot of important games played that are really close. A team that can battle together and win those games is special. That's what we have here.' ___ AP MLB: recommended
Winnipeg Free Press
2 days ago
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
Padres believe all their close wins have helped prepare them for 1st matchups with Dodgers this year
MILWAUKEE (AP) — The San Diego Padres are about to face the reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time since their memorable NL Division Series matchup. They believe all the close games they've played lately prepared them for this test. San Diego's last seven games have been decided by a total of eight runs, a stretch that continued Sunday when Manny Machado's seventh-inning homer gave the Padres a 1-0 win and series victory over the Milwaukee Brewers. 'We know who we're going to run up against, and we definitely got ready for it this week,' Machado said. This run of close games actually started earlier than that. Thirteen of San Diego's last 14 games featured a margin of no more than two runs, and the Padres have gone 9-5 during that stretch. 'These are kind of the games we've been playing the last 2 1/2 weeks here now,' infielder Jake Cronenworth said. 'They're just kind of become the norm for us. I think (if) you can win these one-run games and win them late – good pitching, good defense and timely hitting – that's kind of the recipe for success.' Now they finally get to measure themselves against the Dodgers in seven of their next 10 games. The Padres and Dodgers begin a three-game series Monday at San Diego before meeting again in Los Angeles for a four-game set starting June 16. The Padres are a game behind the Dodgers in the NL West standings after both teams won Sunday. 'It's crazy that we haven't faced them,' reliever Jason Adam said.. 'I'm excited for the series. I'd take this team over any team in baseball, top to bottom. I'd go to battle with them against anybody, so I'm excited for the series. Yeah, that's our focus. We took care of business here. Now, fly home and take care of business there.' How unusual is it for these NL West foes to wait this long before facing off? Aside from the pandemic-delayed season of 2020, the last time the Dodgers and Padres didn't meet until this late in a season was 2000. 'I used to think about the schedule and look at it and then think, 'Wow, that's odd,' ' manager Mike Shildt said. 'And then I started taking a holistic picture of the schedule. The schedule's got to be a nightmare to put together. There's just going to be quirks in it.' This has become one of baseball's top rivalries, thanks in part to their recent postseason showdowns. San Diego defeated the top-seeded Dodgers 3-1 in the 2022 NL Division Series before losing 4-1 to the Philadelphia Phillies in the NL Championship Series. Last year, the Padres had the Dodgers on the brink of elimination before falling 3-2 in the NL Division Series. The Padres led that series 2-1 and had a chance to close it out at home, but they fell 8-0 as eight Dodgers pitchers combined on a shutout. The Dodgers then returned home to win 2-0 in Game 5 as Yoshinobu Yamamoto outdueled Yu Darvish. Darvish hasn't pitched for San Diego yet this season as the 38-year-old right-hander recovers from inflammation in his throwing elbow, but the Padres still have an outstanding pitching staff. San Diego has allowed a total of 15 runs over its last seven games and has three shutouts in that span. Sunday marked the Padres' MLB-leading 12th shutout of the season. Thursdays Keep up to date on sports with Mike McIntyre's weekly newsletter. The Padres have needed that stellar pitching because their lineup has struggled at times. Machado has gone 12 of 31 this month and has three homers in his last four games, but two-time All-Star Fernando Tatis Jr. is hitting .185 since the start of May. That combination of impressive pitching and inconsistent hitting is producing plenty of close games, and the Padres are winning most of them. They're hoping that provides a long-term payoff. 'I think it's not only a help for (preparing for) the Dodgers,' Adam said. 'It's a help for all the future. It's a help for the playoffs. Very rarely are you blowing out a team in the playoffs. Of course, we love blowouts when they happen, and we love winning by 20, but the reality is there's a lot of important games played that are really close. A team that can battle together and win those games is special. That's what we have here.' ___ AP MLB:
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Mets continue to stake claim as one of baseball's best with another win over Dodgers
LOS ANGELES — Nine months ago, the New York Mets were watching the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate on the same field they played Monday. And after being beaten by LA in the 2024 NL Championship Series, Mets manager Carlos Mendoza acknowledged that his club still had a ways to go to get to the next level. Dodger Stadium serves as a reminder of not only where the Mets were, but where they want to go. Advertisement 'It was kind of like a sour taste,' Mendoza said before the game. 'But also understanding that after everything that we went through as a team to get to the NLCS when nobody thought about this team. And we ended up facing the team that ended up winning the World Series. 'Different feeling this year. Understanding that they're really good again, but we're also good.' It's been a little over a year since All-Star shortstop Francisco Lindor called the team meeting that salvaged New York's season. The Mets would go on to have baseball's best record from that point in late May en route to the NLCS. One truth about baseball is how much things change dramatically from season to season. New players coming in and old players going out make duplicating the same chemistry challenging and oftentimes impossible. But the Mets have been able to do it. Advertisement Over the last calendar year, no team in MLB has a better record than the Mets, who are 103-61 since June 2, 2024. That's six wins better than the Dodgers, who have the second-best record in that span. In their first game back at Dodger Stadium since the NLCS, the Mets came out swinging. And who else would it be but their leader Lindor? The All-Star shortstop started the game with a leadoff homer, giving the Mets a 1-0 lead. But even after relinquishing their lead late, and coming a matter of feet from being walked off by Shohei Ohtani, who already homered in the game, New York found its resolve. They'd go on to score two runs in the 10th inning to retake the lead, eventually winning 4-3. Advertisement 'It feels good because you start the game 1-0, but at the end of the day, we understand that we have to play 27 outs,' Lindor said after the Mets' victory. 'That's a really good team on the other side, tough team. They're gonna play 27 outs, as well.' This season, the Mets have shown that the identity they created last season was not only real, but also sustainable. This season, they have the second-best record in baseball (38-22) and are now 10-5 over their last 15 games. 'They're grinding. It's a group that continues to fight," Mendoza said. "We went through a lot of adversity [last year]. Every team is going to go through adversity. … This group has been tested before. Advertisement And I just feel like not only do we have really good players, but they push each other, they prepare, and they're not afraid to hold each other accountable.' New York has now won three of their first four games against LA to take the upper hand on the season series. The Mets have started to get hot as they begin the month of June with a tough stretch, including two more in LA against the Dodgers, three games against the Philadelphia Phillies and six against the Atlanta Braves. There is no revenge won in June, but the Mets' win over the Dodgers and their success against them so far this season serves as a reminder of what they can be if they sustain this identity and level of play. And that's not only one of the best teams in baseball, but one that can go toe-to-toe with the best in the West.
