Series preview: Angels vs. Padres

Los Angeles Angels (63-66) vs. San Diego Padres (67-56), September 7-8, 2021

Location: Petco Park, San Diego, CA

TV: Bally Sports San Diego

Radio: KWFN, XEMO

Angels SB Nation Site: Halos Heaven

The Angels are back on the docket for another pair of games and the Padres need the wins to stay with it in the Wild Card race.

Here’s a look at what we can expect this week:

Projected Starters

Tuesday, 7:10 p.m. PST

Packy Naughton (0-1, 4.00 ERA) vs. Blake Snell (7-5, 4.31 ERA)

Wednesday, 5:10 p.m. PST

TBD vs. Yu Darvish (7-9, 4.05 ERA)

Projected Lineups

Angels

1. Shohei Ohtani (RF)
2. David Fletcher (2B)
3. Phil Gosselin (3B)
4. Jared Walsh (1B)
5. Max Stassi (C)
6. Jose Iglesias (SS)
7. Brandon Marsh (CF)
8. Jo Adell (LF)
9. Starting Pitcher

Padres

1. Trent Grisham (CF)
2. Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF)
3. Manny Machado (3B)
4. Jake Cronenworth (SS)
5. Austin Nola (C)
6. Eric Hosmer (1B)
7. Wil Myers (LF)
8. Adam Frazier (2B)
9. Starting Pitcher

After winning two out of three against the Astros and the Cincinnati Reds dropping three of their last four, the Padres find themselves one game up on the second NL Wild Card spot.

Now, the Angels come to town after splitting a pair in Anaheim last weekend.

The two biggest faces of baseball battle in what could help push the Padres further ahead in the Wild Card race. Ohtani is not expected to pitch this series, but rookie Packy Naughton is expected to start Tuesday against Blake Snell, who has looked like the best pitcher in baseball in his last two starts.

On Wednesday, Yu Darvish takes the mound while the Angels have yet to name a starter.

These games, like every game down the stretch, are crucial for the Padres if they want to see postseason baseball for the second year in a row.