​PHOENIX, ARIZONA – AUGUST 04: Fernando Tatis Jr. #23 of the San Diego Padres scores on a single by Manny Machado #13 against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the second inning at Chase Field on August 04, 2026 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Norm Hall/Getty Images) | Getty Images Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the MLB. Throughout the year we ask questions of the most plugged-in Padres fans and fans across the country.With a three-game sweep of the Washington Nationals and the Arizona Diamondbacks dropping the final game of their series against the Kansas City Royals, the San Diego Padres moved into the third and final National League Wild Card spot with a half-game lead over their NL West rival. The MLB schedule makers might have the ability to see the future because after 146 games, it appears the final series of the season between the Padres and Diamondbacks will decide which team heads to the postseason. There is still time for either team to put some distance between themselves and the other. Which means there is also time for one team to fade out of contention. As much as the Friar Faithful would like to see Arizona do the later, it does not look like the Diamondbacks will oblige. However, there have been recent developments with the franchise from the desert that could change things.Longtime Arizona second baseman Ketel Marte was a no-show for part of their road series with the Boston Red Sox. There were different scenarios and possibilities of what happened or why it happened that were reported, but the final line from the Diamondbacks was that Marte was dealing with a knee injury. That injury prevented him from playing on the field but not at the casino according to photos that made their way to social media. To Arizona’s credit, the team navigated the difficult circumstances and did not let it torpedo the season prior to Marte returning to the lineup.More recently, the Diamondbacks have learned Corbin Carroll is having problems with his lower back, which is an injury he has dealt with in previous seasons. Carroll was scratched from a game and missed another but has already returned to the lineup, avoiding a potential IL stint that would have negatively impacted the Arizona postseason hopes. On a positive note for the Diamondbacks, Corbin Burnes returned to the rotation. The Padres have had gotten positive returns as well as Nick Pivetta returned from injury against the Nationals and pitched five scoreless innings in his return. Similar performances from Pivetta during the final weeks of the season could go a long way in securing a playoff berth for San Diego. At the same time, the Padres desperately need Casey Mize or Robbie Ray to become the pitchers they were before they were acquired. Mize has had mixed results in San Diego and Ray has been the better of the two, but after back-to-back outings where he was touched up for multiple runs there is some concern about their effectiveness.The Padres have a half-game lea