San Diego Padres are in huge trouble after their star shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. tested positive for PEDs (performance-enhancing drugs). Earlier this month, when the Padres acquired Juan Soto and Josh Bell from the Washington Nationals, it seemed like the Padres created the best batting lineup in the entire MLB.

But the Padres once again have lost Tatis for a long time. Not that the Padres were not winning games in the absence of Tatis earlier this season. And as a matter of fact, the Padres did not have Juan Soto and Josh Bell either. But they played like a champion team in the first half of the season.

Notably, Tatis has not played a single game this season because of the injury. And now, when the Padres have Juan Soto and Josh Bell to company their star performer Manny Machado for the rest of the season, will Tatis’ absence affect the Padres this season?

Will Fernando Tatis Jr. be a big miss for the San Diego Padres?

When the 2022 regular season kicked off, the Padres knew they would not have Fernando Tatis Jr. for a long time. And knowing that Tatis was one of the best performers for the padres in the 2021 season, it was a massive setback for the NL side. 

However, the Bob Melvin-led team did not lose hope and played like a very organized team. With Manny Machado leading from the plate and a promising pitching unit, the Padres surprised everyone with their performances.

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Read more: ‘From “El Niño” to “El Needle”- MLB World Reacts as Fernando Tatis Jr. Faces Season-Ending Suspension for PEDs on the Same Day Yankees Released Alex Rodriguez 6 Years Ago

Before adding Juan Soto and Josh Bell, the Padres were already a better team without Fernando Tatis Jr. And when they have a clean hitter like Soto in their squad, the Padres are only stronger. But it is also true that having Tatis would have been a cherry on the top for the Padres.

When talking about the postseason games, the Padres have enough strength to defeat any opponents. However, when it comes down to the NL West, the Dodgers are the boss. With the Dodgers leading over the Padres by 14 games, the Bob Melvin-led team does not stand a chance to win the NL West division.

However, the Padres still have a fair chance to prove their worth in the postseason games. And if things go their way, they might even make it to the World Series without Tatis in their squad.

Tatis will miss a major part of the next season too

MLB has banned Fernando Tatis Jr. for 80 games, meaning that even if the Padres play the postseason games and make it to the World Series, they cannot play 80 games this season.

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And because of this, the Padres shortstop will miss a considerable part of the next season as well. Now that Tatis is not in the Padres’ plan for the postseason games, do you think the San Diego Padres stand a chance to play the World Series this year?