Jessica: That was not how you wanted to end the season. Garrett Mitchell robbing Manny Machado of a game-tying home run in the eighth inning... it’s still fresh, it still stings, and frankly, it’s going to be the story of this entire offseason.
Mark: It’s a brutal way to go out. You’re up against a Brewers team that plays defense like they’re trying to win the World Series, and you have a rotation that looks more like a bullpen meeting than a starting pitching staff. The math just didn’t work for San Diego.
Jessica: Welcome back to the Beatline Podcast Network, America’s number one daily sports podcast! I’m Jessica, and alongside me as always is our lead analyst, Mark. Today is a special mailbag edition because we have so many questions flooding in about what went wrong in Game 4, who is staying, and what happens next.
Mark: We’ve got three segments planned. First, we’re tackling the biggest question from fans: the impact of Garrett Mitchell’s defensive play on the series outcome. Then, we’ll dive into the roster construction—specifically, why the starting pitching depth was non-existent when it mattered most. And finally, we’ll do a lightning round on the offseason priorities, including that urgent need for rotation help we talked about yesterday.
Jessica: Let’s get right into it. Sarah from San Diego asks: 'Did Garrett Mitchell’s catch actually change the trajectory of the game, or was the Padres’ offense already stagnant?' Mark, you were there in spirit. What did you see?
Mark: Sarah, great question. It’s easy to point to the robbery as the turning point, but if you look at the box score, the Padres were struggling to generate extra-base hits all night. Mitchell tripled and scored the tiebreaking run in the fifth, which put Milwaukee up by two. By the time Machado came up in the eighth, the momentum had fully shifted. The catch was the dagger, but the offense had been bleeding out since the fifth inning.
Jessica: Right. And let’s not forget, Miller returned from the paternity list to close it out. Mason Miller was available for Game 4 after witnessing the birth of his first child. That’s a huge emotional boost for a closer, but he couldn’t stem the tide alone.
Mark: Exactly. Miller did his job, but you can’t close games when your starters aren’t getting you through the fifth inning. We mentioned this on the 18th and 19th episodes—the injury list is decimated. Lucas Giolito, Brandon Woodruff, Grant Anderson, Quinn Priester, Angel Zerpa, Brian Fitzpatrick... six pitchers on the 60-day IL. That’s half your rotation gone before the playoffs even started.
Jessica: @PadresFan92 chimes in: 'If the rotation was this thin, why didn’t they make a move before the deadline? Did management fail to see this coming?' This is the hot take today. Thoughts?
Mark: It’s a fair critique. When you’re sitting first in the NL West with a 91-71 record, there’s less pressure to panic-buy. But looking at the depth chart now, you see Walker Buehler, Michael King, Joe Musgrove, Casey Mize, Nick Pivetta, JP Sears, Randy Vasquez... that’s a lot of arms, but only three are healthy enough to start regularly. The front office gambled on health, and it didn’t pay off.
Jessica: So, @ChulaVistaChris asks: 'Who is the priority acquisition for the offseason? Do they keep building the bullpen or fix the rotation?' We know the bullpen has Jason Adam, Jhony Brito, Griffin Canning, Jeremiah Estrada, Kyle Hart, Garrett Hawkins, Yuki Matsui, Bradgley Rodriguez, Adrian Morejon, David Morgan, Wandy Peralta, and Hunter Stratton. That’s a deep unit. Where does the money go?
Mark: The answer is obvious. You don’t add another reliever when your starters are getting shelled. You target free-agent pitching. We predicted this yesterday. The Padres will prioritize acquiring starting pitching through free agency to replace injured arms. You need someone who can eat innings and provide stability behind Machado, Tatis, and Jackson Merrill.
Jessica: Agreed. Let’s move to Segment 2. Roster battles. Emily from Los Angeles asks: 'With Miguel Andujar on the 10-Day IL and Rodolfo Duran on the 60-Day IL, how does the DH spot look for 2027? Is Austin Hays locked in, or is Will Wagner a contender?'
Mark: Emily, it’s interesting. Austin Hays has been a solid contributor, but Will Wagner brings a different skill set. With Andujar and Duran sidelined, the DH spot is up for grabs. But honestly, I think the bigger issue is the infield. You’ve got Jake Cronenworth at second, Ty France at first, and Manny Machado at third. That’s a strong core, but you need versatility.
Jessica: And don’t forget Xander Bogaerts at shortstop. He’s been instrumental. But @SDDieHard asks: 'Is Luis Campusano still the catcher of the future? Or is Freddy Fermin giving him a run for his money?'
Mark: Campusano is the guy. Ethan Salas is also in the mix, but Campusano has shown the most promise defensively and offensively. Fermin is a capable backup, but you build around your starter. Unless Campusano struggles significantly, he’s the man. The catching depth is fine, but the outfield is where things get spicy.
Jessica: Jackson Merrill in center, Fernando Tatis Jr. in right, Samad Taylor and Dustin Harris in left... it’s crowded. @MachadoNation wants to know: 'Does Machado’s injury history affect his long-term value with the Padres? Should they trade him?'
Mark: No. Absolutely not. Machado is the face of the franchise. You don’t trade your best player because of injury concerns. You manage his workload. The robbery in Game 4 showed his heart—he was driving hard, trying to save the season. That’s the kind of leadership you want. Keep him, protect him, and build the team around him.
Jessica: Couldn’t agree more. Let’s wrap up Segment 2 with one quick question from @BrewersNemesis: 'How worried should we be about the Dodgers rematch in the NLCS?'
Mark: Worried? Yes. The Brewers eliminated the Padres, but they advanced to an NLCS rematch with the Dodgers. If the Padres had won, they’d be facing LA again. Without rotation improvements, it’s an uphill battle. We said it on the 19th: the Padres will face an uphill battle in the NLCS against the Dodgers without immediate rotation improvements.
Jessica: Alright, Segment 3. Lightning round. First, a fun hypothetical: 'If you could bring back one pitcher from the current injured list, who would it be and why?'
Mark: Brandon Woodruff. Hands down. His stuff was elite when healthy. Having him back would instantly upgrade the top of the rotation. But realistically, he’s probably out for the year. So, next best option? Walker Buehler. He’s proven he can dominate in big moments.
Jessica: Solid pick. Now, quick takes. Who is the MVP candidate for the Padres in 2027? Is it Tatis, Machado, or Jackson Merrill?
Mark: Jackson Merrill. He’s young, he’s versatile, and he’s still improving. Tatis and Machado are superstars, but Merrill has the upside to be the centerpiece of the next decade. Plus, he plays center field, which helps the defense.
Jessica: I’ll take that. Final quick take: What is the single biggest risk for the Padres in the 2027 offseason?
Mark: Losing key pieces to free agency or injury again. The roster is talented, but it’s fragile. One more bad luck stretch like this season, and you’re playing catch-up. They need to build depth, not just star power.
Jessica: Before we go, I want to say something real. If today’s breakdown helped you understand the Padres’ playoff exit and what’s next, that means a lot. We work hard to bring you these insights every day, completely free. If you found value here, please consider supporting us via the link in the episode description. Your contribution keeps the show running and ensures we can keep breaking down the game you love.
Mark: Thanks for listening. The Padres have the talent to compete, but they need to address those pitching holes. See you tomorrow.
Jessica: Subscribe, rate, and review wherever you listen. Go Padres!