As 2022 ALCS Runner-Up Yankees Experience Playoff Elimination, Will the Dodgers’ Rival Padres Face the Same Fate?

2023 has been a terrible letdown for many fanbases around the league. The New York Yankees are not heading to the playoffs, much less the Fall Classic Finale. Short of finishing the season with a losing record and at the bottom of their division, nothing has gone quite right in the Bronx. On the other coast and in the National League, another team may face the same fate.

The top 3 teams on the MLB payroll list have also been the top disappointments in 2023. The first two are from New York and the third one is from San Diego. 2023 was supposed to be the year that The Padres finally clinched a good victory against rivals The Dodgers. But just like the Pinstripes, all expectations were met with disappointment.

Just Like the New York Yankees, San Diego Padres May Not Make it to October

2022 was a surprise – the Friars made it to the NLCS, even if it was ultimately lost to The Philadelphia Phillies. Across the American League, the Yankees lost the ALCS to the Houston Astros in what was mostly good season. This year was supposed to be better for both, especially with a franchise-best payroll for each.

Instead, the Bronx Bombers are out of postseason contention and the Friars may be headed the same way. For the first five months of the 2023 season, the club was posting the second-worst batting average in the league. Not having more than three games over .500 since May, August was the cherry on top of an already terrible season.

On the other hand, their I-5 rivals in the NL West, The Los Angeles Dodgers, have had one of the best seasons in club history. Two Boys in Blue are competing for an MVP award and their status as division toppers has been unquestioned for a long while. Although of course, they have had troubles of their own, if there is one thing The Dodgers know how to do is consistently keep winning.

Are the Friars Officially Done for the Season?

Mathematically speaking, no. The Wild Card still holds some hope and The Padres are nothing if not surprising. Their victory may be aided by the fact that the last leg of the season doesn’t include any powerhouses. But even so, the SD team stands at the fifth NL Wild Card spot and will need to catch up.

READ MORE – “No One Wants to Watch the Worst Offense….” – San Diego Padres 2023 Season Continues to Get Worse with Another Major Setback

September has seen The Padres bring up their batting average to sixth-best in the league. Until Sept. 22nd, they were on a surprising eight-game winning streak too. Their current match-up against the SF Giants might go alright since the team is positively collapsing. The only remaining team would be the Chicago White Sox, who have been painful to watch this season.

If they can secure some consecutive victories, The Padres may surprise the league just yet.

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