Breaking Down the Padres' Remaining Schedule as September Approaches

As the San Diego Padres enter the final weekend of August, there is a really good argument that they have endured the toughest part of their schedule. Sure, there are four series remaining that will certainly test the Friars, but there will be plenty of chances to improve their standing so the games at the end of the season don't really matter that much.

With four weeks and this weekend remaining, here is a look at what remains for the Padres in their pursuit of a spot in the postseason:

Remaining Padres Schedule At A Glance

• Games remaining: 28
• Home and road: 12, 16
• Games vs. teams above .500: 15
• Strength of schedule: 16th-toughest (.497 winning percentage)

Padres Storylines in the Final Weeks

What's At Stake?

The Padres hold the third and final NL wild-card spot, trailing the No. 2 Philadelphia Phillies by two games and ahead by a game of the Arizona Diamondbacks, who are sitting on the outside of the postseason picture entering the weekend. Realistically, three three teams are battling for two NL wild-card spots, although another team could get hot and enter the equation. It would also take a good slump by the Chicago Cubs to fall from the No. 1 wild-card perch.

Rough Stretches Are Over

After having 17 straight games without a day off before the All-Star break, 10 consecutive games after and then 16 in a row after their only day off besides the four from the break, the Padres are currently in a stretch of having five straight Thursdays off, including the next two. They will have one more day off the Monday of the final week of the regular season following 10 games in a row.

Facing Contenders

Of the nine remaining series, four are against definite contenders, with a fifth on the borderline at the moment. This weekend, the Padres hit the road for three games against the Tampa Bay Rays, who have the best record in the AL and are trying to stave off the New York Yankees for AL East supremacy. The second comes next weekend (Sept. 4-6) at home vs. the Yankees, who in addition to trying to chase down the Rays are looking to fend off the rival Boston Red Sox for the better AL wild-card seed. The Yankees currently hold the No. 1 AL wild card.

The other two series you probably know about. Those would both come in the final week with a three-game trip up the 5 Freeway to face the rival Los Angeles Dodgers (Sept. 22-24), who comfortably lead the NL West over the Friars, for three games before concluding the regular season against the Diamondbacks (Sept. 25-27). The one series that comes against a questionable contender is Sept. 18-20 vs. the Miami Marlins. The Marlins enter the weekend just behind the D-Backs, but face a very loaded September schedule and could be out of the picture by the time they arrive at Petco Park.

Close To Home (Mostly)

The six-game road trip that starts this weekend is the last against teams not in the NL West. After the Rays, the Padres travel to the Cincinnati Reds (Monday-Wednesday), who have not truly been in the postseason picture for quite some time this year, although they do hang out on the periphery. Their final three road opponents are the San Francisco Giants (Sept. 11-13), the Colorado Rockies (Sept. 14-17) and the Dodgers. The Rockies series is a four-gamer before returning home to face the Marlins. The Padres, who are 31-34 away from Petco Park, do play on the road more than at home, which is the biggest downside to the remaining schedule. There is only one true homestand. That will be the six games against the Yankees and Washington Nationals (Sept. 7-9). The other two home series are separate three-game sets.

When September Ends

Baseball just works out this way. Facing the Dodgers and the D-Backs to end the regular season has always felt like impact games. Even with a rather favorable schedule before then and the opportunity for the Friars to minimize the importance, those final six games are going to come into play somehow. Perhaps it will be the Padres and Phillies battling for the No. 2 wild card, or maybe the Padres and D-Backs will be engaged in a sudden-death clash for the final playoff spot in the National League.