Padres Stumble in D.C., Look to Pivetta to Salvage Series Finale

• The San Diego Padres lost 4-2 to the Washington Nationals, dropping their second consecutive game.
• Yu Darvish pitched five innings and allowed three runs in his longest start since returning from injury, but received the loss.
• A promising eighth-inning rally was ended by a costly baserunning error by Fernando Tatis Jr.
• The Padres' only offense came from a Martín Maldonado RBI double and a Luis Arraez RBI single.
• Nick Pivetta is scheduled to start the series finale on Sunday as the Padres look to avoid a sweep.

Another winnable game, another frustrating result. The San Diego Padres dropped their second straight to the Washington Nationals on Saturday, falling 4-2 in a game that felt like a series of missed opportunities. Despite a solid outing from Yu Darvish in his longest start since returning from injury, the offense couldn't muster enough, leaving it all up to Nick Pivetta to play the role of stopper in Sunday's series finale.

The Padres threatened in the eighth, but Fernando Tatis Jr. was caught in a rundown at third after a comebacker to the mound, extinguishing the team's best chance at a comeback.

Saturday's Frustrating Setback

The script felt all too familiar. The Padres got a decent start from Yu Darvish, who went five innings and allowed three runs in a promising step forward, but the bats couldn't provide the necessary support. The only scoring came from the bottom of the order, with Martín Maldonado doubling in a run and Luis Arraez promptly singling him home. But that was it. The back-breaker came in the eighth inning when a promising rally was snuffed out by a costly baserunning mistake with Fernando Tatis Jr. getting caught in a rundown. It was the kind of loss that stings, especially against a Nationals team well below .500.

The Sunday Salvage Mission

All eyes now turn to Sunday's finale, where Nick Pivetta (9-2, 2.88 ERA) will take the ball. Pivetta has been the Padres' most reliable arm this season, and they need a classic ace performance from him now more than ever. A win would salvage one game and prevent a sweep, which is crucial as they sit 4.5 games behind the Dodgers. Adding another layer of drama, they'll face former top Padres prospect MacKenzie Gore (4-8, 3.02 ERA), who will surely be motivated to perform against his old organization. With Manny Machado leading the offense (.287, 18 HR, 60 RBI), the team needs its stars to back up Pivetta's start.

Roster Shuffle: Sheets In, Campusano Out

The team also made a roster move ahead of Saturday's game, reinstating outfielder Gavin Sheets from the paternity list. Sheets provides a needed left-handed power bat for the bench. To make room, catcher Luis Campusano was optioned to Triple-A El Paso. While it's tough to see Campusano go down, the move makes sense. He'll now get consistent, everyday at-bats to continue his development, something he wasn't getting in a crowded catching situation in San Diego. This move shores up the big-league bench for the immediate future while investing in Campusano's long-term success.

Losing a series to the Nationals is a tough pill to swallow, but the season is a marathon, not a sprint. Sunday's game is now a test of this team's resilience. Can Nick Pivetta play the hero and send the Friars home with a much-needed victory? A win is critical to wash away the frustration of the last two days and build momentum heading into the next series.