The Padres Have A Close Game Problem

Extra Innings And One-Run Games Have Doomed The Friars

The San Diego Padres have been one of the more perplexing teams from the 2023 season. Despite having a +55 run differential and a Pythagorean record of 79-67, they are 68-78 sitting 4th in the National League West.

So, what has gone wrong for the Padres? In the 2022 season, San Diego finished with a 30-17 record in one run games, best in MLB. This season, they are 6-22 (.214%) in one run games. That is the second worst mark in history behind the Boston Braves 1935 season that went 7-31 (.184%).

Another massive blemish for San Diego has been their lack of success in extra innings this season. They’ve yet to win a game (0-11) in extras all year.

Randomness will always prevail when it comes to these close games. Will the Padres luck bounce back in the 2024 season? While the results have been incredibly disappointing, there is hope for a massive turnaround for the Padres next year.