Padres and Rays Prepare for Crucial Rubber Match

The San Diego Padres and Tampa Bay Rays are set to face off in a crucial rubber match on Sunday after splitting the first two games of their series. The Padres, who are vying for a National League wild-card spot, won the opener 13-5, while the Rays bounced back with an 11-4 victory. Key players include San Diego's Jurickson Profar, who has been productive offensively, and Tampa Bay's Yandy Diaz, who leads the team with a .276 batting average. Padres manager Mike Shildt emphasized his team's resilience despite recent pitching struggles. Dylan Cease will pitch for the Padres, hoping to improve his consistency. Tampa Bay's Jose Caballero has been a standout, driving in four runs in Saturday’s game.