SAN DIEGO -- The Padres spent September as the hottest team in baseball, surging into the postseason and securing a Wild Card Series at Petco Park. Gavin Sheets, meanwhile, spent most of the month in a walking boot.
All summer, Sheets had been playing through a nasty injury -- a plantar plate tear in his left foot. He wondered if he’d be able to contribute at all. The Padres decided there was almost no way that Sheets could contribute defensively. He’ll probably require surgery at some point this offseason.
But maybe … just maybe … if Sheets could heal just enough … he could deliver a meaningful swing or two in the postseason.
A swing like this one.
Sheets came off the bench to deliver the swing that broke the Cubs in Game 2 of the National League Wild Card Series on Wednesday night -- a pinch-hit, two-run home run that sent Petco Park into delirium and the Padres on course for Milwaukee.
With their 4-1 victory over the Cubs, San Diego secured a trip to the NL Division Series against the Brewers, beginning on Saturday night. Milwaukee finished with the Majors’ best record and has Jacob Misiorowski lined up for Game 1.
A tall task, sure. But the way these Padres are playing right now, would you put it past them?
They made quick work of the Cubs this week, dispatching them in two games that were never really all that close. The two teams played 18 innings at Petco Park this week. The Padres led after 17 of them -- sweet revenge after their 2025 season came to an end with a Wild Card Series exit at Wrigley Field.