A fan wearing a Mexican hat bearing the San Diego Padres logo is seen ahead of the MLB World Tour Mexico City Series game between the Arizona Diamondbacks and the San Diego Padres at Alfredo Harp Helu Stadium in Mexico City on April 26, 2026. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images)
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As the Major League Baseball season draws to a close on September 27, San Diego Padres players and supporters remain firmly focused on the scoreboard.
The franchise is making a determined effort to secure a spot in the 2026 National League Playoffs.
By the beginning of play on September 14, the Padres had established a commanding lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks for the final National League Wild Card position.
The Padres had reeled off seven consecutive victories prior to embarking on a four-game series at Coors Field in Colorado.
In their recent stretch, the Padres posted an 8-2 record over their last ten games, while the Diamondbacks compiled a 6-4 mark.
The two rivals will face off in San Diego to conclude the regular season.
The Padres can attribute a significant portion of their success to three exceptionally powerful sluggers in their batting lineup.
The Padres’ Impact Trio:
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 09: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated in the dugout after scoring a run during the third inning against the Washington Nationals at Petco Park on September 09, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
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Fernando Tatis Jr.:
Fangraphs.com reports that Fernando Tatis Jr. bats leadoff for the Padres.
The 30-year-old right fielder, a right-handed hitter, has heated up recently, recording nine hits across his last five games. This surge includes a triple and a home run.
Here is Tatis Jr.’s statistical line through and including September 14:
.289/.358/.459/.817
Through 649 plate appearances, Tatis Jr. has accumulated 29 doubles, three triples, 21 home runs, and 75 RBIs. On the basepaths, he has stolen 35 bases while being caught 13 times.
Despite striking out 119 times in those 649 plate appearances, his overall impact makes this a highly credible strikeout rate.
Tatis Jr. earned All-Star honors in 2021, 2024, and 2025, and has also won two Gold Glove Awards in 2023 and the previous season.
San Diego Padres’ Manny Machado celebrates with teammates after hitting a two-run home run against the San Francisco Giants during the second inning of a baseball game in San Francisco, Sunday, Sept. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Jed Jacobsohn)
Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved
Manny Machado:
Fangraphs.com lists Machado hitting third in the Padres lineup.
The 34-year-old third baseman, a right-handed hitter, has delivered another outstanding season for San Diego.
In a September 13 victory over the San Francisco Giants, Machado homered and drove in two runs.
Standing at 6-2 and 218 pounds, Machado has played parts of 15 big league seasons, with the last eight spent with the Padres.
Throughout his career, Machado has been named a seven-time All-Star, a three-time Silver Slugger, and a two-time Gold Glove winner.
This season, Machado has posted a stat line of .221/.311/.413/.724, featuring 22 doubles and 27 home runs in 621 plate appearances. He has also stolen five bases.
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 26: Jackson Merrill #3 of the San Diego Padres is congratulated in the dugout after scoring a run during the second inning against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Petco Park on August 26, 2026 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images)
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Jackson Merrill:
Fangraphs.com lists Jackson Merrill hitting fifth in the Padres lineup.
At 23 years old, the left-handed-hitting centerfielder is the youngest member of this powerful trio.
Selected as a first-round draft pick by the Padres in 2021, Merrill has been a remarkably steady contributor to the team’s success since his major league debut in 2024.
In his last five games, Merrill has tallied nine hits in 21 at-bats. During the Padres’ 9-2 victory over the Washington Nationals on September 9, he recorded four hits in five plate appearances, which included a double, two home runs, six RBIs, and a stolen base.
Merrill stands at 6-2 and 195 pounds, possessing an outstanding combination of power and speed.
Merrill was named an All-Star in his rookie 2024 season and also won a Silver Slugger Award.
Thus far this season, Merrill has a stat line of .248/.298/.439/.737, complemented by 25 doubles, four triples, 25 home runs, 82 RBIs, and 26 stolen bases. He has been caught only three times.
Merrill is the perfect five-hole hitter, as there is a strong probability that either Tatis Jr. or Manny Machado—or both—will be on base when he comes up to drive in runs.
The San Diego Padres’ logo is seen on a player jersey during a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati, Wednesday, April 27, 2022. The Padres won 8-5. (AP Photo/Aaron Doster)
Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
Conclusions About The Padres’ Powerful Sluggers:
San Diego Padres baseball is becoming increasingly compelling.
The Padres are loaded with excellent offensive weapons and boast a highly credible pitching staff.
The team is making a strong September push for the postseason.
MLB.com lists the following remaining schedule for San Diego:
September 15, 16, 17 at Colorado Rockies
September 18, 19, 20 at home vs. Miami Marlins
September 21: Off day
September 22, 23, 24 at Los Angeles Dodgers
September 25, 26, 27 at home vs. Arizona Diamondbacks to close the season, games that could determine the final NL Wild Card entry.
The schedule is demanding, and victories are not guaranteed.
However, led offensively by Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Jackson Merrill, the Padres appear well-positioned over the final two weeks.
These three San Diego Padres sluggers are spearheading the franchise’s relentless quest for a 2026 National League Playoff berth.
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