San Diego Padres on Pace For Dubious Piece of Baseball Record Books

This would be a distinction that no team wants to hold, but the San Diego Padres are on track for it.

There are 162 games in a baseball season. 

In general, all teams will win at least 54 games (although the A's and Royals are testing that this year). Also, nearly all teams will lose at least 54 games over the course of a season.

It's those other 54 games that decide ultimately how a team will end up. The teams that end up really good find a way to win them, the teams that end up bad or disappointing find a way to lose them.

The latter applies to the San Diego Padres, who are on track to own a dubious part of baseball history.

Per @OptaSTATS on social media:

Following yesterday's 5-4 loss to Arizona, the Padres are now 6-19 (.240) in games decided by one run this season. 

That would be the worst record in one-run games by a major league team in a season since the 1935 Boston Braves went 7-31 (.184) in such games.

Following yesterday's 5-4 loss to Arizona, the Padres are now 6-19 (.240) in games decided by one run this season.

That would be the worst record in one-run games by a major league team in a season since the 1935 Boston Braves went 7-31 (.184) in such games. pic.twitter.com/rSwzPPFFqG

— OptaSTATS (@OptaSTATS) August 14, 2023

Yeesh, you talk about finding a way to lose close games. That loss to the Diamondbacks was actually on Sunday as the Padres lost 4-1 to the Orioles on Monday.

After spending a bunch of money and trade capital in the last few years on Xander Bogaerts, Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, Fernando Tatis Jr., Josh Hader and Juan Soto, the Padres were supposed to be battling for a World Series title this year. Instead, they are 56-63, in fourth place in the National League West and 6.5 games back of the final wild card spot.

The Padres and Orioles will play again Tuesday night at 9:40 p.m. ET.

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