Padres News: Juan Soto is Optimistic About The Postseason, Despite Their Odds

After a disappointing showing against the Nationals, Soto is hasn't given up hope.

When slugger Juan Soto was acquired by the Padres in 2022, it felt like the Nationals were taking a significant step back in their postseason hopes. On the other hand, the Padres soared to the top of playoff conversations, and were one of the top favorites to win the World Series before the start of the 2023 season.

Thus, the Padres were heavy favorites in each of the three matchups against the Nationals last weekend. The Friars lived up to expectations in the first game, winning 13-3, and a sweep felt imminent. 

During a season in which wins have been hard to come by, a series against the Nats felt gift-wrapped. The Dodgers' recent struggles combined with a big series win against Tampa Bay last week meant the Padres had potential to climb up the NL West standings and inch closer to erasing their embarrassing start to the 2023 season.

Instead, the Nationals shutout the Padres in Saturday's game and hung 8 runs on the Friars Sunday afternoon. All of a sudden, a Padres team that looked to be heating up is now 4-6 in their last 10 matchups.

With each game that passes by, there exists fewer opportunities for the Padres to right the ship. While there is over half of the season remaining, the Padres must go on a long winning streak to threaten a playoff push. Losing a home series against a bottom-feeder team like the Nationals is unacceptable.

"It's pretty tough," Soto said. "Like I've said, we got to start going since day one. We can't wait too long. I think we still have the chance. We just got to figure it out, play better baseball."

(Via

The Athletic

)

Soto knows a bit about the postseason. He won a World Series in 2019 with the Nationals and made it to the NLCS against the Phillies last year. Right now, the Padres have a 40.7 percent chance of making the postseason, according to FanGraphs.

It seems simple, but in order for the Padres to avoid becoming one of the most disappointing rosters of this century and make the playoffs, they must win games. Especially against teams like the Nationals.