yahoo
The San Diego Padres have officially punched their ticket to the postseason, but the team is far from satisfied. Manager Craig Stammen emphasized that the Padres are aiming for a stronger finish to the regular season, with home-field advantage in October serving as a primary motivator.
"I think it's very important," Stammen said during an appearance on MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM. "I think our players know that too. We played so well at home this year. It's probably another big reason for our success—we just had a really good run at Petco Park. Our fans show up every night, 40,000 fans, it's pretty impressive."
Stammen's comments underscore that simply reaching the playoffs isn't the ultimate goal for San Diego. The team is determined to lock down the top seed in the National League Wild Card series, which would guarantee that the postseason begins at Petco Park.
"It'd be great for us to play at home," Stammen added. "We got a one-game advantage right now with three to play. So we got to play these three games tough, even though we are in the postseason."
The Padres will wrap up their regular-season schedule against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Currently, they hold a one-game lead over the Chicago Cubs, who have also clinched a playoff berth, and a two-game cushion over the Philadelphia Phillies. San Diego's magic number stands at 3, meaning any combination of Padres wins and Cubs losses totaling three would secure home-field advantage for the Wild Card round.
Key Analysis
With the playoffs secured, the Padres' focus has shifted to seeding and home-field advantage—a factor that could prove crucial in a short series. Stammen's emphasis on the team's performance at Petco Park reflects a broader strategic approach: maximizing every possible edge in October. The coming series against Arizona will be a test of focus and execution, as San Diego aims to enter the postseason on a high note and with the comforts of home.
Originally reported by yahoo.