There's an outdated saying in sports activities: “Big players make big plays in big games.” Historically, it has been true. Patrick Mahomes wins Super Bowls. Michael Jordan gained NBA championships.
If it interprets to baseball, the Padres are in a very good place as a result of there aren't any greater video games than postseason video games and Fernando Tatis Jr. tends to thrive in massive video games. The famous person outfielder has solely appeared in the playoffs as soon as. But that one time?
My goodness, was it spectacular.
In the 2020 postseason, Tatis Jr. performed six video games. He hit .318 with an 1.126 OPS and had one swing that was so epic, it put him on the cowl of a online game.
(*7*)
That bat flip that ended up on the entrance of MLB The Show occurred on October 1, 2020 … precisely 4 years to the day that Tatis Jr. will make his postseason return in Game 1 of the National League Wild Card sequence towards the Atlanta Braves. The 25-12 months-outdated missed the Padres 2022 playoff run because of accidents and a efficiency-enhancing drug suspension. Tatis Jr. says these moments in 2020 had been nice, however which may have simply been an appetizer.
“I remember a lot of it. Especially the emotions,” says Tatis Jr. “But, I'm just looking forward to what we can do as a team this year. I feel like part of what I did back in those days, it's definitely going to be probably even better this time.”
That could possibly be a terrifying proposition for a Braves membership that is coming to city about as gassed as a baseball staff might be. Atlanta needed to play a doubleheader on Monday, successful the second sport to earn the National League's ultimate playoff spot. Chris Sale, the Cy Young Award frontrunner, is coping with again spasms and is not even on the Braves Wild Card sequence roster.
Atlanta's pitching employees has been taxed to the level they're beginning the sequence with 21-12 months-outdated rookie A.J. Smith-Shawver on the mound towards Padres righty Michael King. The latter has been one of the greatest pitchers in the National League over the final two months. The former is making his second profession massive league begin.
All round San Diego folks had been sporting their Padres gear, you may actually really feel the pleasure constructing to sport time. Nowhere is it larger than in East Village. NBC 7's Todd Strain is close to the ballpark with the fan frenzy.
Smith-Shawver is the 2nd-ranked prospect in the heralded Atlanta system however apart from that? The Padres are form of going into this sport blind.
“We started doing our research last night. (We) don't have a lot of information on him, clearly, but we have done our work on figuring out what he does,” says Padres supervisor Mike Shildt. (*1*)
As for King, he comes into his first profession postseason begin very nicely-rested. King was scheduled to start out the common season finale in Arizona however the Friars held him again for Game 1, giving him two further days of preparation. In the 2nd half of the season King has been on a roll, pitching to a 2.15 ERA after the All-Star break the dwindled to a 1.57 mark in 4 September begins.
Those are the sorts of numbers that made King the centerpiece of the offseason commerce that despatched Juan Soto to the New York Yankees and began the reimagining of the San Diego Padres.
Perhaps the figuring out issue on this sequence will probably be the venue. Petco Park has changed into a formidable dwelling discipline benefit. The Friar Faithful set a brand new single-season attendance document in 2024 and previous playoff video games in the East Village have been deafening (simply ask the Dodgers about the basis shaking in the 2022 NLDS), which brings us again to Tatis Jr.
He's all the time fed off the vitality of a crowd, be it the ones cheering for him at dwelling or the ones booing him on the street. Those video games he performed in 2020, throughout the international pandemic, had nothing however cardboard cutouts in the seats. Now he lastly will get to expertise the playoffs at a packed Petco Park.
“It's going to be loud, just like it has been all season long,” says a smiling Tatis Jr. “I'm simply trying ahead to the vitality, and you recognize what the followers are going to convey.
First pitch for Game 1 is scheduled for five:38 p.m. The winner of Tuesday's tilt will probably be one win away from advancing to the National League Division Series towards the Los Angeles Dodgers.
