If you thought that the San Diego Padres’ momentum was a fluke, you might want to take a closer look at what’s really happening in San Diego. On Wednesday morning, the Friars took down the Philadelphia Phillies 6-4 behind a six-inning start from Nick Pivetta and a dangerous lineup that completely broke the game open early.

However, it wasn’t just the scoreboard; it was also about the vibe. And according to 29-year-old Gavin Sheets, the Padres’ dugout is loaded with complete leadership and with firepower – something he is glad to be a part of.

Postgame, Sheets mentioned, “This has been one of the most fun lineups I’ve been a part of. Just the star power we have from top to bottom. To be around guys like Merrill, Tatis, and Machado—seeing how they go about their business, what they do behind the scenes—it’s special. You feed off those guys. To put that kind of pressure on a pitcher from 1 through 9, it’s something else.” And really, the Philadelphia Phillies felt every bit of the pressure.

Starter Mick Abel couldn’t really find the zone in the second inning. He walked four batters, two of whom came with the bases loaded. Then Manny Machado jumped on the hanging curve and laced a bases-clearing double to put the San Diego Padres 5-0. Also, Abel didn’t make it out of the inning. From there, the lineup kept grinding. Tatis Jr. and Jackson Merrill went on to create chaos in the fourth.

They set the table for Luis Arraez to walk in another run. Merrill, just 21 years old, drew three walks and added an RBI. The 6-0 cushion gave Nick Pivetta all the room he needed to go six innings, one earned run, and not even a single walk.

The Philadelphia Phillies did wake up late, though, but the early deficit was too much to overcome.

For now, one thing is for sure—San Diego clubhouse is celebrating the team not just being hot but gelling. As Sheets wanted to highlight, if you are a rival club, this club should scare you.

But before the Padres could even fully celebrate their win over the Phillies, reality knocked again—they are still juggling a pitching staff, hanging by a thread.

San Diego Padres face uncertainty as King’s return remains up in the air

Michael King, the right-hander acquired during the blockbuster Juan Soto trade, has been sidelined since May 25 with shoulder inflammation. At first, things looked hopeful. There was no structural damage. He even started throwing again in late June. But now, there is a twist.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, King’s injury involves a nerve issue. And that is where things get tricky. Unlike a muscle strain or tendon tweak, a nerve problem has no set timeline. The recovery completely depends on when the nerve starts firing again, and that could be now, soon, or not in this season at all.

Still, King is optimistic, and he told the Union-Tribune that his pain is improving. And that he has been throwing more frequently, and if all goes well, he could return by August or September. That’s right, the time when the Padres would need him to make a deep October run.

King’s incoming would be great because he has been stellar in his first season as a full-time starter in 2024. He made 30 starts with a 2.75 ERA and starred in the Wild Card round. This season, he posted a 2.59 ERA in 10 starts before going down.

Right now, though, King is not the only one in IL; there is Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove, and Ryan Bergert, too.

And with the trade deadline coming soon, it’ll be interesting to watch if the Padres take a front seat there…