Padres News: Manny Machado, Friars Still Holding Out Hope for End of Season Miracle

By the time you're reading this, the Padres could have already been eliminated from the 2023 playoffs. A rain delay in New York has put the Miami Marlins on hold from knocking the Friars out of the Wild Card race, at least for the time being. 

Still, the fact that the Padres are somehow still alive is a miniature miracle in and of itself.

This team, which features the third-highest payroll in baseball, has dramatically underperformed. With an All-Star-heavy roster, San Diego fans wouldn't have dreamed of a season ending with a playoff absence.

With a single Marlins or Cubs win, or the Reds winning more than two of their three remaining games, their dreams will become a nightmare and the Padres will officially be sent home early.

However, the Padres' clubhouse is keeping their hopes high. All they can focus on is winning three games against the White Sox in Chicago this weekend.

An extra-inning win, their first of the season, against the Giants Wednesday night could be the fuel necessary to provide the Padres with a late-season winning streak.

“All year, we’ve been trying to figure it out and trying to find it, and obviously it took a little bit longer than we expected,” said Manny Machado. “But we knew what team we had. We knew the guys in here, the capability of how good we could play. We just wanted to go out there and leave it all on the field the last couple of weeks. We’re still not out. We’ve still got hope. Obviously, fate is not on us. But what we can do right now is continue to keep playing and finish strong.”

(Via Kevin Acee, The San Diego Union-Tribune)

Garrett Cooper, who had two hits, including a home run and a double in Wednesday's win, said the word that all fans are hoping for: a miracle.

"We've finished the year strong," Cooper said. "We've put ourselves in a position where we're going to need some help over the next four days, where hopefully a miracle comes. ... You're wishing on a prayer, but you've got to take care of business here first."

(Via AJ Cassavell, MLB.com)

The quest for a miracle continues Friday against the Chicago White Sox, pending a Marlins or Cubs victory Thursday night.