Padres Surge With Young Stars Shining | San Diego Padres News

The Padres are on fire, riding an eight-win streak to a two-and-a-half-game division lead and just one-and-a-half games behind the wild-card race. Manager Craig Stammen credits sharper focus and smarter execution for the surge, while Manny Machado says the team’s learned how to claw back from adversity. Since the All-Star break, they’ve posted the third-best winning percentage in MLB, with Fernando Tatis Jr. hailing their newfound cohesion. A highlight? Top prospect Ethan Salas, 20, crushed his first major league triple — the youngest to do so since Machado himself in 2012 — giving him instant confidence. The offense exploded against Logan Webb, scoring five runs in the first two innings, led by Tatis’ three singles, Merrill’s double, and Machado’s homer. Even without key relievers, the bullpen rallied, with Yuki Matsui nailing his first save. Next up: a tough road trip to Coors Field, where Randy Vásquez’s pitchability could be the key to surviving the grind. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Sources:https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2026/09/14/padres-daily-best-position-in-a-while-another-surge-ethan-salas-gets-a-knock-vasquez-at-altitude/ More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/2c2fda444fabed9d Report issues to [email protected].