Good morning,

Comparing October and August baseball is generally pretty silly.

No matter how big the crowd is. No matter how the game is managed.

The stakes simply are not high enough with more than a month to play for a game to have the tension that comes with knowing every loss is one step closer to a season’s disappointing end and every win could be one of the final steps to the ultimate goal.

But the Padres’ 2-1 victory over the Dodgers last night had enough of the elements to give it a sort of (sort of!) playoff feel.

It did not hurt that each team’s starting pitcher was one that will be start for them in October. It did not hurt that first place in the National League West is up for grabs and that the stakes between these two teams could be a first-round bye in the postseason.

See Full Page