It is not yet getting too late for the San Diego Padres. Yet it’s not unfair to wonder what table scraps will be available to fight for if they right themselves.
The Padres, who overcame years of sizzle over substance with a stirring run to the National League Championship Series in 2022, will lurch into June closer to last place in the NL West than even third, and perhaps more significant, with the 10th-best record − 24-30 − in the NL.
From an inopportune offense to a skittish pitching staff, there’s little manager Bob Melvin can rely on and Sunday, the latest piece to misfire was ace Yu Darvish, who had completed at least five innings in 37 consecutive starts. That ended when the New York Yankees chased him in the third inning of an eventual 10-7 loss to the Yankees.
It was San Diego’s sixth series loss in its last seven, a stretch that included losing five of six games to the Dodgers, perhaps casting the die for this season. For now? A three-game set at 28-26 Miami − just another NL team looking down at the Padres, who fell to a season-low 20th in USA TODAY Sports’ power rankings.
NIGHTENGALE’S NOTEBOOK: What we know and what we don’t at Memorial Day weekend
A look at this week’s rankings:
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Another challenge, accepted: Go 7-3 on homestand against Brewers, Blue Jays, Dodgers.
3. Texas Rangers (+1)
4. Los Angeles Dodgers (+1)
7. New York Yankees (+2)
10. Toronto Blue Jays (+1)
11. Milwaukee Brewers (-1)
14. New York Mets (-1)
20. San Diego Padres (-4)
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Too many dead spots in the lineup, none moreso than catcher (Austin Nola .131, .434 OPS).
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: MLB power rankings: San Diego Padres drop, New York Yankees rise