SF Giants Gameday podcast: Games against Padres will reveal what Giants can achieve

After winning five in a row and 15 of their last 20 games, the San Francisco Giants are one of the hottest teams in baseball. One of the only clubs that can legitimately claim it's been better over the last few weeks is a San Diego Padres team set to welcome the Giants to town this weekend. Throughout the 2010s, the Giants were built on pitching and defense, but as they open a new decade in Gabe Kapler's inaugural year as the team's manager, the club has battled its way into playoff position on the strength of its offense. The Giants have been extremely difficult on opposing pitchers, but the Padres are one of the only clubs with superior numbers this season. After adding first baseman Mitch Moreland and catchers Austin Nola and Jason Castro at the deadline, a San Diego club that is loaded with young talent has the complimentary veteran pieces to make a deep playoff run. With Kapler's team attempting to lock up a surprise playoff berth, there's no question the Giants' road to the postseason hopes depend on how the club fares against a Padres team that owns the second-best winning percentage in the National League. The Giants have proven they can play the first-place Dodgers tough as they went 4-6 against the heavy favorites to win the NL pennant, but they'll play seven of their last 16 games against a Padres team that sees itself as a strong bet to challenge Los Angeles in the playoffs. If the Giants handle the Padres and win four or five of the seven matchups that remain, they could find themselves with a better first round playoff matchup and potentially face the Cubs or Braves. If the Padres handle the Giants, San Francisco could fall to the dreaded eight seed and face the Dodgers or miss the playoffs altogether. We'll soon know if the Giants are capable of sneaking up on teams in October. Their games against the Padres will show us how they stack up.