Bogaerts: Fernando Tatis Jr. Is Placing Padres ‘On His Again’ in 2024 MLB Playoffs

Fernando Tatis Jr.’s first postseason expertise in entrance of dwelling followers goes higher than anybody might have predicted after his two-run homer capped off a six-run second inning in Recreation 3 of the NLDS lifted the San Diego Padres to a 6-5 win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Talking to reporters after Tuesday’s win, Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts praised Tatis for “placing it on his again proper now” with the group one win away from reaching the NLCS for the second time in three years.

Tatis’ solely earlier postseason look with the Padres got here through the 2020 season. The Padres did play in entrance of followers for his or her NLDS collection towards the Dodgers, but it surely was a restricted crowd at Globe Life Discipline in Texas because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 2-time All-Star wasn’t eligible for San Diego’s 2022 playoff run after he was suspended for 80 video games attributable to a violating of MLB’s Drug Prevention and Remedy Applications when he examined constructive for the performance-enhancing drug Clostebol.

Now that Tatis is again within the playoffs for the primary time in 4 years, he’s reminding the world why he is among the greatest younger stars within the sport. The 25-year-old is hitting .556/.636/1.333 with 4 homers in 49 plate appearances in 5 playoff video games.

Whereas it’s truthful to say Tatis is doing quite a lot of heavy lifting for the Padres, he’s not the one participant on the group taking part in effectively proper now. Rookie Jackson Merrill has an 1.156 OPS in his final 5 video games. Kyle Higashioka is slugging .750, and Jurickson Profar has a .429 on-base share on high of his trolling defensive abilities.

The Padres’ lineup is choosing up the slack for his or her rotation to date. After they put up a six spot within the second inning on Tuesday, Michael King allowed the Dodgers again within the recreation within the high of the third by giving up a grand slam to Teoscar Hernández.

Dylan Stop allowed 5 runs in 3.1 innings in San Diego’s Recreation 1 loss to the Dodgers.

The Padres have scored no less than 5 runs in every of their final 4 playoff video games. The remainder of the playoff area has scored no less than 5 runs in a recreation a mixed complete of seven instances.

San Diego will look to finish the Dodgers’ season within the NLDS for the second time in three years in Recreation 4 at Petco Park on Wednesday at 9:08 p.m. ET. Stop will make his second begin of the collection seeking to redeem himself.