Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images
The Padres went into the weekend riding the highest high of the entire 2025 season. They left Los Angeles with their tails between their legs. Is this a sign of a bigger problem?
They say, in order to be the best, you have to beat the best. At this point, the Padres have beaten the worst to appear like one of the best.
This past weekend at Chavez Ravine, it appears the Padres were exposed to a degree.
A troubling trend is underlining the outward appearance of success by the San Diego Padres. Indeed, they are 69-55, still 14 games above .500 even after getting their lunch money taken by the Dodgers. They currently sit in the second Wild Card spot with a 4.5-game cushion between them and outside the playoff picture. As of now, FanGraphs has San Diego’s playoff chances at a cushy 97.2 percent.
Yet, it feels like there is something missing.
The Dodgers pummeled the Padres this season, plain and simple. They currently own an 8-2 advantage in the season series, a year after the Padres claimed it.
Overall, the Padres struggle against teams at or above .500. So, how did they get this record worthy of a playoff spot if the season ended today?
By beating up on lesser teams. San Diego owns the best record in MLB against teams below .500 at 45-24. They are beating the teams they are supposed to beat.
The problem is, they aren’t beating the teams they consider their “peers” nearly enough.
The top teams in baseball are the Brewers and Blue Jays. For reference, they are both over 10 games better than .500 against winning teams. The Padres sit at 24-31 against teams at .500 or better.
Among teams currently in a playoff spot, that is the worst mark.
So, essentially, the Padres have the best record in MLB against teams below .500 and the worst record among contending teams against teams with a winning record.
Frankly, that merits them flirting with the “f word.” That being, of course, “frauds.”
Are the Padres frauds?
That situation certainly seems like the definition of it.
Against the five other teams currently in the National League playoff spots, they are a combined 13-15. The Padres have also struggled against interleague play, going 16-20 against the American League.
Meanwhile, they are 14-4 against the current last-place teams in the NL.
The Padres have built their success on clobbering bad teams and barely treading water against any better teams.
For a team with the World-Series-or-bust label, that’s not good enough. Whatever the problem is, the Padres need to fix it fast.
Fernando Tatis Jr. looks disassociated.
Manny Machado is even now struggling.
Dylan Cease can’t get people out in big spots.
The Padres traded for Ryan O’Hearn, and yet he is only getting part-time at-bats.
The bullpen and lineup have been mismanaged at times by Mike Shildt.
These are things a decent team can hide against lesser competition. But the good teams the Padres will face down the stretch, and hopefully October, will exploit that immediately.
Simply, the Padres need to start playing better against teams that are not among the worst in the league, or it will be a quick exit in October, if they get there at all.
Native of Escondido, CA. Lived in San Diego area for 20 years. Padres fan since childhood (mid-90s). I have been writing since 2014. I currently live near Seattle, WA and am married to a Seattle sports girl. I wore #19 on my high school baseball team for Tony Gwynn. I am a stats and sports history nerd. I attended BYU on the Idaho campus. I also love Star Wars.
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