The San Diego Padres come into this matchup on June 25, 2025 with a 44-36 record that has them firmly in the hunt for a playoff spot in the competitive National League West, and they will look to use their home-field advantage at Petco Park to take care of business against a rebuilding Washington Nationals team that’s still trying to find its identity. This Padres club has built its success around a balanced offensive attack led by perennial star Manny Machado, who continues to anchor the middle of the order with his mix of power and situational hitting, routinely coming up with big hits when San Diego needs them most. Around him, Xander Bogaerts has been a model of consistency with a batting average well above .280, providing an experienced and professional bat at shortstop and setting the table for big innings with his patient approach at the plate. Luis Arraez, acquired in the offseason, has also been a catalyst at the top of the order, bringing his trademark contact skills and on-base prowess to ignite the offense and put pressure on opposing pitchers, allowing San Diego to manufacture runs even when the home run ball isn’t there.

On the mound, the Padres will lean on their deep rotation to control this game, and while they may not have the ace they once relied on in years past, arms like Nick Pivetta and Joe Musgrove have given them competitive innings all season long with Pivetta in particular using his lively fastball and sharp breaking pitches to keep hitters off balance. Musgrove’s veteran poise and big-game experience also help steady the rotation, especially in games like this where they’ll want to jump out to an early lead and then let their bullpen take over. The Padres’ bullpen, headlined by closer Robert Suarez and setup man Steven Wilson, has been one of the most effective in the National League when they have a lead late, and their ability to lock down the final outs will be key to avoiding any letdown against a feisty Washington team. Defensively, San Diego is sound up the middle with Bogaerts and Kim, and they rarely beat themselves with errors or sloppy fundamentals, which could make a big difference if this game stays close into the late innings. Playing at home also brings a certain energy to this Padres club that tends to elevate their performance, and they’ll look to jump on the Nationals early by being aggressive on the basepaths and putting their power bats in good spots to do damage. With a legitimate shot at making a serious run this postseason, San Diego knows that games like this — where they face a struggling opponent — are must-win opportunities that will go a long way toward cementing their status as a contender. If they can stick to their game plan, get a quality outing from their starter, and continue swinging the bats with confidence up and down the lineup, they’ll be well positioned to close this series on a high note and build some momentum heading into a tough stretch against divisional rivals.