The Best of the Day: April 25th, 2021

Dodgers vs. Padres featured one of the best regular season games of all-time

The Chiefs vs. Ravens, Lakers vs. Nets, and Dodgers vs. Padres. That is likely what many would consider the most exciting matchup in each of the major sports right now. However, Chiefs-Ravens has been pretty one-sided during the Mahomes vs. Lamar era and Lakers-Nets have never played each other yet with all of their superstars on the court. There is no matchup in sports right now that is more consistently exciting than the Dodgers vs. Padres, whether it’s on paper with their collection of star talent or on the actual field with games that consistently become late-inning thrillers. 

1. This is the best season series in baseball ever and the #1 matchup in sports right now

This 7-game regular-season series pretty much came down to the very final pitch possible with bases loaded on a 3-2 count in extra innings where the Dodgers could’ve walked away victorious, but Tim Hill rang up DJ Peters on a high fastball above the zone. It seemed like every at-bat featured a 3-2 count and every inning had bases loaded as the suspense is this series has been insane. The two most exciting teams in the league have played games within a run or two pretty much the entire time, and the best part is this is just the beginning!

Padres vs. Dodgers is quickly becoming the most exciting matchup to watch in ALL of sports https://t.co/bcq349as8P

— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) April 26, 2021

2. Fernando Tatis Jr. delivered an all-time series vs. the Champs

The Padres would’ve had no chance in this series if it wasn’t for a historic performance from Tatis Jr. He made history in LA (as seen in the interesting facts section) and was a huge catalyst for San Diego’s offense, all while electrifying MLB fans with his bombs and celebrations. MLB is letting the kids play and Tatis Jr. played as well as any visiting player has ever played in LA before. 

FIVE homers in three games for El Niño. pic.twitter.com/5SYJLRPFkX

— MLB (@MLB) April 26, 2021

3. San Diego’s defense is holding them back

The team that’s been constructed in Southern California is as stacked as any with a rotation, lineup, and bullpen that can go toe-to-toe with any team in the league. However, their defense has been a major disappointment with Tatis Jr. being the main issue so far with nine errors through 15 games. This is very uncharacteristic for the enigmatic superstar after only three errors in 57 games last year, so this could very well turn around but the Padres as a team currently leads the league in defensive mistakes and must clean that up if they want to compete come the postseason. 

Fernando Tatis Jr. has 9 errors in only 15 GP this season, the most in the MLB.

San Diego Padres have 22 errors in 24 GP this season, the most in the MLB pic.twitter.com/fv6EBJyVnC

— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) April 26, 2021

4. Dustin May’s 10 Ks shows his future Cy Young potential

Lost in the background of the Dodgers dominant rotation, the young Dustin May is just scratching the surface of what he can become. Armed with a lethal 2-seam fastball and nasty offspeed stuff, May has the repertoire and command to develop into a perennial Cy Young candidate. As good as LA’s rotation is now, it could get even better once May and Julio Urias continue to develop into certified frontline starters. 

At 23 years and 231 days old, Dustin May is the youngest Dodgers pitcher with 10+ strikeouts in a game since Clayton Kershaw on September 4, 2011 (23 y, 169 d) https://t.co/ald8gqMNmw

— Sarah Langs (@SlangsOnSports) April 26, 2021

5. LA unleashed an offensive avalanche on Nick Ramirez

Just like every game in this series, the Dodgers and Padres were battling with two or fewer runs separating them pretty much all game. However, that changed in the bottom of the 6th inning when LA’s offense unloaded bombs galore on Nick Ramirez. Ramirez single-handedly blew a 2-1 lead, turning it into a 7-1 deficit. The Padres’ bats were able to mount the improbable comeback later on, but Ramirez likely won’t be there the next time these two teams play after that pathetic performance. 

6. Dodgers bullpen is their kryptonite that could prevent back-to-back titles

While Nick Ramirez was lit up in this Game 7, multiple Dodgers relievers were unsuccessful in holding a 6-run lead with 3 innings. LA was heavily taxed this series with all four games coming down to the wire, so they didn’t have many options on Sunday. However, if they don’t make some additions before the trade deadline, Dodgers fans will witness another collapse in LA come October with this game being the latest piece of evidence. 

Seven unanswered runs and the @Padres take the lead in the 11th. pic.twitter.com/s6aW8j6xhr

— MLB (@MLB) April 26, 2021

7. Padres bullpen escaped FOUR bases-loaded situations

While the Dodgers’ unimpressive bullpen struggled once again on Sunday, San Diego’s top-tier unit could’ve easily joined them as they allowed base runners to fill each and every base on four separate occasions. Except, a great bullpen is able to manage those tough situations and that’s exactly what they did (besides Ramirez) as they got out of all four of those occurrences to keep their chances of a win alive in what became a very suspenseful evening. 

CLUTCH. Onto the 11th. 😳 pic.twitter.com/VAo0tUnN5Q

— MLB (@MLB) April 26, 2021

8. Both teams used every player they possibly could during this game and this series

An important part of both of these rosters is just how deep they are. Notorious for their luxurious depth, it was certainly tested and put to use over the last four games. Basically, every single player was used in the starting lineup, out of the bullpen, or as a pinch-hitter at some point. That depth will help these teams maintain high-quality records throughout a 162-game season and keep things fresh in this exhilarating matchup.

The strikeout. The reaction.

@Jimmy_J_Nelson came up big. pic.twitter.com/p2lEFQ5Ell

— MLB (@MLB) April 26, 2021

9. A-Rod is essentially becoming the Tony Romo of baseball announcers

While Alex Rodriguez has lost a number of fans along his professional journey, he’s done everything in his power to get them back in his post-playing career. His main impact on today’s game is in the announcer’s booth during MLB’s primetime game of the week, where he’s regularly predicting pitches and strategies, similar to Tony Romo in the NFL. Two former legends that played on iconic franchises with a controversial past, who are now analyzing the game and proving themselves as impressive prognosticators in their respective sport. 

10. San Diego’s Big 3 carried their comeback and their entire offense once again

Eric Hosmer has been San Diego’s most productive hitter this season, Fernando Tatis Jr. is the next face of baseball, and Manny Machado might be the most likely Hall of Famer on the team as of right now. Those three have been responsible for a lot of their runs against LA this year and Game 7 was no different as Hosmer had the GW-RBI in the 11th, Machado came through with the game-tying RBI in the 9th, and Tatis Jr. scored both of those critical runs. Their Big 3 is great when healthy and productive, but that won’t always be the case this season, and SD will need other hitters to step up in those big moments if they want to win it all this year.  

San Diego had a 0.007 chance of winning this Game 7 against the Dodgers when they were trailing 7-1 in the 7th inning before tying it 7-7 to force extra innings https://t.co/XEMjzxzDGq

— Pro Sports Outlook (@PSO_Sports) April 26, 2021

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