Padres maintain slim lead for final playoff spot as season winds down

The San Diego Padres are holding the final playoff position in the National League by one game following a 5-4 stretch over the past nine games. With 28 games remaining, they are two games behind the Philadelphia Phillies for the second Wild Card spot and only one game ahead of the Arizona Diamondbacks. The starting pitching has improved, highlighted by six quality starts recently, while the offense continues to struggle against top-tier pitchers. Casey Mize is expected to make his next start despite recently suffering an ankle injury. The team faces challenges in consistently scoring runs, particularly against strong pitching, which could impact their postseason chances if they qualify.

• 3:02 AMYahoo Sports — Padres cling to final playoff spot