San Diego, CA

How To Watch NL Wild Card Series: Milwaukee, San Diego The Favorites

Published

1 year ago

October 1, 2024

How To Watch NL Wild Card Series: Milwaukee, San Diego The Favorites

Francisco Lindor two-run, ninth-inning homer against Atlanta on Monday propelled the New York Mets … [+] into the playoffs. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

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The New York Mets and Atlanta traded celebrations on the same Truist Field on Monday, when the wild National League wild card race was finally decided.

The NL needed an extra day and two postponed games to settle things, but when Atlanta beat the Mets 3-0 to salvage a split in a doubleheader pushed back because of Hurricane Helene, Arizona was left out.

All three finished the regular season at 89-73, but the Diamondbacks lost a tiebreaker after losing season series to Atlanta (5-2) and the Mets (4-3).

“We’re in, and anything can happen,” manager Brian Snitker said after Atlanta secured a playoff berth for the seventh straight season.

Marcell Ozuna had 39 homers to help Atlanta to its seventh straight postseason appearance. (AP … [+] Photo/Jason Allen)

The Diamondbacks can lament the final eight days of the season — they lost an 8-0 lead in a 10-9 loss at Milwaukee on Sept. 22 and lost home series to San Francisco and San Diego in the last week.

The Mets won 19 of their final 28 games, the best record in the majors, to reach the playoffs for the second time since 2016. Atlanta was 16-12 in that stretch and the Diamondbacks were 13-15. The Mets were 11 games under .500 open June 2.

Milwaukee and San Diego not only will have the home field field advantage, they will have the freshness edge after the Mets and Atlanta played 18 innings Monday.

No. 6 seed New York Mets (89-73) vs No. 3 seed Milwaukee (93-69)

Tuesday: New York Mets (Luis Severino, 11-7, 3.91 ERA) at Milwaukee (Freddy Peralta, 11-9, 3.68), ESPN, 4:30 pm ET

Wednesday: New York Mets at Milwaukee, ESPN, 6:30 pm ET

Thursday: New York Mets at Milwaukee ESPN2, 7:30 pm ET (if necessary)

Francisco Lindor will finish in the top three in NL MVP voting after his 33-homer, 29-stolen base … [+] season. (AP Photo/Jason Allen)

Season series: Milwaukee, 5-1. The Brewers opened the season with a three-game sweep in New York and closed the season by winning two of three. The Mets’ victory Sunday opened their window a little wider.

Players to watch/things to know

New York Mets: SS Francisco Lindor gave Shohei Ohtani a run for the NL MVP award with 33 homers, 91 RBIs and 29 stolen bases. He pushed the Mets into the playoffs with a two-run homer in the ninth inning of the 7-6 victory in the first game at Atlanta on Monday.

1B Pete Alonso had 34 homers and 88 RBIs in his walk year, and RF Brandon Nimmo had 90 RBIs and 23 homers, including big ones in the final week stretch against Philadelphia and Atlanta.

The Mets had four double-digit winners, led by lefty Sean Manaea, who tied his career high with 12 wins and had a carer-best 3.47 ERA after signing a two-year, $28 million deal last winter that includes a player option.

Willy Adames had a career year while helping Milwaukee to the NL Central title. (Photo by John … [+] Fisher/Getty Images)

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Milwaukee: SS Willy Adames set career highs in almost every offensive category — 32 homers, 112 RBIs, 33 doubles, 21 stolen bases — as he prepares to hit the free agent market this winter. 1B Rhys Hoskins has 26 homers and 82 RBIs in his first (and maybe only season) here.

Rookie Jackson Chourio made a late run at the Rookie of the Year award, finishing with 21 homers, 22 stolen bases and 79 RBIs. Chourio, who signed an eight-year, $82 million deal at the winter meetings, is the only player in major league history with a 20/20/20 three peat — 20 homers and stolen bases at age 20.

Jackson Chourio is the first player in major league history with 20 homers and 20 stolen bases at … [+] age 20. (Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

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The Brewers made the playoffs for sixth time in seven seasons under first-year manager Pat Murphy. He used 17 starting pitches, only three of whom make more than 14 starts. They have 64 defensive runs “saved,” according to Fangraphs, tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the most in the league, and have 217 stolen bases.

No. 5 seed Atlanta (89-73) vs No. 4 seed San Diego (93-69)

Tuesday: Atlanta (TBA) at San Diego (Michael King, 13-9, 2.95), ESPN, 7:30 pm ET

Wednesday: Atlanta at San Diego ESPN2, 7:30 pm ET

Thursday: Atlanta at San Diego, ESPN, 6 pm ET (if necessary)

Season series: San Diego won, 4-3. The Padres won three of four in Atlanta but lost two of three at home before the All-Star break. Chris Sale won both his starts agains the Padres, giving up one run in 12 innings.

Players to watch/things to know

Atlanta: Sale is the overwhelming favorite to win the NL Cy Young Award after going 18-3 with a league-leading 2.38 ERA in his first season in Atlanta, but his health is a major issue entering the playoffs.

Sale was scratched from his scheduled start in the second game of the Monday doubleheader against the Mets because of back spasms, and manager Snitker said he is unlikely to pitch against the Padres, a huge blow even for a team whose starters led the NL with a 3.56 ERA.

Matt Olson was a constant for injury-depleted Atlanta, hitting 29 homers while playing all 162 … [+] games, (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

DH Marcell Ozuna (39 homers, 104 RBIs) and 1B Matt Olson (29/98) were two of the only three players with least 450 at-bats for the injury-ravaged Braves. RF Ronald Acuna, the 2023 NL MVP, has been out with a knee injury since May and 3B Austin Riley (19 homers) will miss the postseason with a broken hand suffered Aug. 18.

San Diego: 3B Manny Machado (29 homers), LF Jurickson Profar (24), CF Jackson Merrill (24) and RF Fernando Tatis Jr. (21) lead a balanced offense that got a bump when DH/IF Luis Arraez (.318) was acquired from Miami to fill the leadoff hole May 4. Arraez won his third batting title in three seasons.

Manny Machado helped San Diego take two of three from Arizona in the final series of the regular … [+] season. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri)

Offseason acquisitions RHPs Dylan Cease and King anchor a solid rotation, and RHP Roberto Suarez had a career-high 36 saves in his first season as a closer. Merrill is a top candidate for NL Rookie of the Year, adding 90 RBIs.

The Padres are 43-19 since July 19, the best record in the majors over that span by three games. The Dodgers held them off in the division by going 41-23 in that same stretch. San Diego does a lot well. They lead the NL in batting average (263), are fifth in ERA (3.86), tied for first in shutouts (16) and fourth in fielding percentage.

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San Diego, CA

San Diego police chief lays out separation between SDPD and ICE

Published

8 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

San Diego police chief lays out separation between SDPD and ICE

The Rotary Club of La Jolla hosted San Diego Police Chief Scott Wahl at its March 10 meeting as he spoke about his team’s role in the community, pointing out that it does not include enforcement of federal immigration laws.

Meanwhile, the club is continuing its contributions to a fire station fundraising project.

Here’s a breakdown of the latest Rotary happenings.

Chief explains SDPD and ICE dynamic

Wahl discussed his department’s priorities and attempted to clarify the differences between its operations and those of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Wahl, who led SDPD’s Northern Division, which includes La Jolla, as a captain in 2021-22 and took over as chief in 2024 following the retirement of former chief David Nisleit, said he has three main goals for the department: Build trust, develop leaders and be efficient and effective with the resources allotted. Its overarching job, he added, is to provide stability and structure “when things are out of control and there’s chaos.”

Several questions from people at the meeting were directed toward the Police Department’s role — or lack thereof — in ICE operations.

San Diego police do not enforce federal immigration laws and are subject to state regulations. California Senate Bill 54 “prohibits SDPD officers from investigating, detaining or arresting people based solely on their immigration status,” according to the city of San Diego.

SDPD officers are not allowed to ask about immigration status, participate in immigration enforcement or assist with immigration arrests. They are responsible for answering calls for emergency help and providing information as available to elected officials about the details and circumstances of calls.

Wahl described the department’s role as “apolitical,” though he added it’s an increasingly fine line to walk.

“Obviously this is a very polarizing issue with many different views,” Wahl said. “I’m sorry the way this is impacting families and folks that have been in this country for many, many years. I wish there was something I could do to change that. But I am very cautious to make sure I’m not in my role creating or making this … Police Department a pawn in a political battle.”

“They [ICE] have their areas of responsibility, we have our areas of responsibility,” Wahl said. “Unfortunately, right now during this tough time, we all get painted with the same broad brush.”

Wahl told the La Jolla Light after the meeting that it’s unsurprising that immigration enforcement is a topic of local interest given San Diego’s proximity to the U.S./Mexico border.

“It’s a tough issue, and it’s really tough to be succinct and to the point [and] have people understand all the different layers,” he said. “I understand people want us to do something. And I want to be able to do something. But in many respects, there’s not much we can do.”

Wahl said he was unaware of any ICE-related calls SDPD may have received in La Jolla, though areas such as Linda Vista, South Park and Mission Valley have been affected.

Fire Station 16 fundraising

An ongoing effort to renovate San Diego Fire Station 16 on Mount Soledad in La Jolla continues to gain steam and is now about $45,000 from its fundraising target, Rotarian Cindy Goodman told the Light.

Visitors and firefighters gather at a Nov. 12 open house at La Jolla’s Fire Station 16 that raised $20,000 toward the station’s renovation. (Provided by Wendy Moore)

The city approved a Phase 1 revitalization plan shepherded by the La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club to replace walls and doors in the station’s sleeping areas, along with other improvements.

The San Diego Fire-Rescue Foundation and the Rotary Club of La Jolla have teamed with Sunrise Rotary in an agreement that if the Rotarians come up with the money and materials for the project, the city will provide the labor.

The Fire-Rescue Department says Fire Station 16 was built in 1982 and hasn’t had any major renovations since, instead receiving small upgrades. Renovating the station will enable firefighters to have better sleep, privacy and living standards, project organizers say.

The overall funding target is $175,000. But with more than $130,000 collected so far, the clubs should be able to cover construction and temporary housing costs, Goodman said. Now they are awaiting city guidance on temporary trailers that meet requirements.

“The community has been wonderful about supporting the project to provide decent housing for our firefighters, and all those involved are very grateful,” Goodman said.

Kiwanis and Rotary joint meeting to feature S.D. council president

Less than a month after he held a town hall meeting at the La Jolla Recreation Center, San Diego City Council President Joe LaCava, whose District 1 includes La Jolla, is scheduled to deliver a city update at a Rotary Club meeting later this month.

The meeting, a joint effort including the Kiwanis Club of La Jolla, will begin at noon Tuesday, March 24, at the La Valencia Hotel, 1132 Prospect St.

Hot topics at LaCava’s March 4 town hall included area speed limits, city budget issues and continuing infrastructure projects. ♦

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San Diego, CA

Padres roster review: Miguel Andujar

Published

20 hours ago

March 11, 2026

Press Room

Padres roster review: Miguel Andujar – San Diego Union-Tribune

MIGUEL ANDUJAR

Position(s): Third base, left field, first base
Bats / Throws: Right / Right
2026 opening day age: 31
Height / Weight: 6-foot / 211 pounds
How acquired: Signed as a free agent in February 2026
Contract status: Will make $1.5 million in 2026, with the opportunity to earn another $2 million-plus in performance bonuses; his $4 million guarantee includes a $2.5 million buyout against an $8 million mutual option for 2027.
fWAR in 2025: 1.1
Key 2025 stats: .318 AVG, .352 OBP, .470 SLG, 10 HRs, 44 RBIs, 36 runs, 17 walks, 49 strikeouts, 1 steal (94 games, 341 plate appearances)

STAT TO NOTE

.986 — Andujar’s OPS against left-handed pitching in 2025, the second-highest mark of his career and well above his career .807 OPS against southpaws. Andujar had been below .600 in 2021 and 2022 before jumping to .871 in 2023 and a career-high .995 in 2024.

Up — Signed for $700,000 out of the Dominican Republic as a 16-year-old in the international amateur market, Andujar needed two years to get out of the Yankees’ rookie-ball affiliate in the Gulf Coast League and finally cracked top-100 lists ahead of the 2018 season — No. 59 at Baseball America and No. 65 at MLB.com — after reaching Triple-A following a 16-homer season (.850 OPS). Andujar even made his MLB debut as a 22-year-old in 2017 and looked like he’d be a big part of the Yankees’ future after pairing 27 homers and 92 RBIs with an .855 OPS in finishing second to Shohei Ohtani in AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2018. But a right shoulder labrum tear derailed Andujar in 2019 and Andujar was never able to grab a starting job again in New York. The Pirates claimed him late in 2022 and then the Athletics claimed him after the 2023 season. By then, he’d developed into a platoon player with defensive limitations. Andujar had a .697 OPS in 75 games in his first year with the Athletics and a .765 OPS in 60 games last year when, after missing time with a right oblique strain, he was shipped to the Reds for a minor league pitcher. Andujar went on to hit .359/.400/.544 with four homers and 17 RBIs in 34 games to help the Reds lock up a wild-card spot. He was 0-for-4 with a walk and a strikeout in the NL Wild Card Series sweep at the hands of the Dodgers.

Miguel Andujar #41 of the San Diego Padres participates in drills during spring training workouts at the Peoria Sports Complex on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2026 in Peoria, Ariz.(Meg McLaughlin / The San Diego Union-Tribune)

2026 OUTLOOK

The need for right-handed balance in the lineup was painfully obvious in the Padres’ NL Wild Card Series loss to the Cubs, so Andujar became a target after 1B/OF Ryan O’Hearn walked as a free agent. Expect Andujar to get at-bats against lefties as either a DH, first base, third base or left field — the spots he’s been playing in spring training.

ROSTER RANKINGS

1. OF Fernando Tatis Jr.
2. 3B Manny Machado
3. OF Jackson Merrill
4. RHP Nick Pivetta
5. RHP Michael King
6. RHP Mason Miller
7. OF Ramón Laureano
8. SS Xander Bogaerts
9. LHP Adrián Morejón
10. RHP Jeremiah Estrada
11. RHP Jason Adam
12. 2B Jake Cronenworth
13. RHP Joe Musgrove
14. RHP Randy Vásquez
15. INF Miguel Andujar
16. OF Gavin Sheets
17. LHP JP Sears
18. RHP Yu Darvish
19. RHP Bradgley Rodriguez
20. RHP David Morgan
21. C Freddy Fermin
22. LHP Wandy Peralta
23. C Luis Campusano
24. LHP Yuki Matsui
25. INF Sung-Mun Song
26. RHP German Marquez
27. RHP Matt Waldron
28. OF Bryce Johnson
29. OF/1B Nick Castellanos
30. RHP Ron Marinaccio
31. RHP Bryan Hoeing
32. LHP Kyle Hart
33. INF Will Wagner
34. RHP Garrett Hawkins
35. RHP Miguel Mendez
36. RHP Daison Acosta
37. RHP Ty Adcock
38. RHP Alek Jacob
39. INF Mason McCoy

Removed from 40-man roster

OF Tirso Ornelas (designated for assignment)
RHP Jhony Brito (60-day injured list)

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San Diego, CA

San Diego Bishop Is Out of a Job

Published

1 day ago

March 10, 2026

Press Room

Pope Leo XIV has accepted the resignation of the Chaldean Catholic bishop of San Diego, California, a decision announced Tuesday by the Vatican after the bishop was arrested on embezzlement charges. The San Diego County Sheriff’s Office said last week it had arrested Bishop Emmanuel Shaleta on Thursday at San Diego International Airport as he tried to leave the country, reports the AP. The office said it acted after someone from Shaleta’s church provided a statement and documentation “showing potential embezzlement from the church.” Shaleta was being held on $125,000 bail on eight counts of embezzlement, money laundering, and aggravated white collar crime, the statement said. Shaleta pleaded not guilty on Monday, reports NBC San Diego.

“He was on his way to Germany,” prosecutor Joel Madero said. “Given his access to funds, the fact that he had over $9,000 in the bag when he was stopped, and the fact that he has these international ties … I do believe that some bail to ensure he shows up is appropriate.” There was no immediate reply to an email sent to Shaleta’s parish, St. Peter Chaldean Church, seeking comment and contact information for his attorney. The Vatican said in its daily bulletin Tuesday that Leo had accepted Shaleta’s resignation under the code of canon law for eastern rite churches that allows for the pope to agree if a bishop asks to step down.

Leo actually accepted the resignation when Shaleta presented it in February, but an announcement was not made until Tuesday, according to the Vatican embassy in Washington. The Holy See appears to have waited to announce the decision to avoid interfering with the police investigation. Leo named Bishop Saad Hanna Sirop as a temporary administrator. Shaleta, 69, was ordained a priest of the Chaldean Catholic Church in Detroit in 1984. He was named to the San Diego branch of the eastern rite Catholic Church in the US in 2017.

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