Cardinals and Padres Take Divergent Paths Amid Trade Deadline Moves

The Cardinals are facing a downturn after splitting their series with the Padres last week. Currently, they trail the division leader by 10 games and are 5½ games behind the Padres for the National League’s third wild card slot. With the trade deadline looming, St. Louis decided to trade some assets, including closer Ryan Helsley and setup man Phil Maton, indicating a pivot towards rebuilding. Last week’s outcome - a split in a four-game face-off with the Padres in St. Louis - underscored their current struggles.

On the other hand, the San Diego Padres are surging forward, boasting a five-game winning streak that has narrowed their gap to just three games behind the Dodgers at the top of the division. They are also closing in on the Phillies, who currently hold the second wild card position in the NL. San Diego has built a 3½ game cushion over the Reds for the National League’s final wild-card spot, reflecting their recent strong performance as the season progresses.