From deadline trade to postseason hero: how one player delivered the Padres’ ticket to October

The San Diego Padres punched their ticket to the 2025 MLB postseason with a 5-4 extra-innings win over the Milwaukee Brewers on Monday night at Petco Park.

It’s the fourth time in the past six seasons the Friars have made the playoffs. José Iglesias set the tone with a home run in the bottom of the fifth, though San Diego trailed 3-2 into the seventh before Luis Arráez drove in Iglesias to tie it at 3-3.

The decisive blow came from Freddy Fermín, a trade-deadline addition, who lined a Grant Anderson pitch in the 11th to send Bryce Johnson racing home and complete the comeback.

San Diego currently sits in the second Wild Card spot, 2.5 games back of the Dodgers with five regular-season games left. The Padres haven’t won the NL West since 2006, and Los Angeles holds the tiebreaker after winning the head-to-head series 9-4.

If the season ended today, the Padres would open the Wild Card Series on the road against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field – unless they manage to snatch the division crown from the Dodgers. In the National League, the Cubs, Phillies, Brewers and Dodgers have already clinched playoff spots.

Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.

Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.