Manny

Machado

Garrett Mitchell prevented the homer. Machado didn’t have a great regular season, but he was the standout performer for the Padres this October, going 7-for-20 with a homer, two doubles and five walks. That was good for a 1.080 OPS, well ahead of Xander Bogaerts at .824 for the best mark on the team.

Merrill is hitting second for the first time since late July as San Diego attempts to stave off elimination and begin climbing out of an 0-2 deficit as the best-of-five series shifts to Petco Park. It’ll be Ethan Salas handling the catching duties for the third time in five postseason contests with Gavin Sheets getting the nod at DH. Here’s the full lineup: Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF), Merrill (CF), Manny Machado (3B), Ty France (1B), Salas (C), Sheets (DH), Xander Bogaerts (SS), Dustin Harris (LF) and Jake Cronenworth (2B).

The Padres are rolling with the same starting nine that they did in Game 1, the only change is that Salas and Xander Bogaerts have swapped lineup spots and Luis Campusano will do the catching with Salas serving as the DH. Here’s how they’ll line up against Brewers’ right-hander Logan Henderson on Sunday: Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF), Dustin Harris (LF), Manny Machado (3B), Ty France (1B), Jackson Merrill (CF), Salas (DH), Xander Bogaerts (SS), Luis Campusano (C) and Jake Cronenworth (2B).

Salas earns his second consecutive nod behind the plate as the Padres kick off a best-of-five matchup against a powerhouse Brewers squad. The 20-year-old prodigy, who is a revelation from a defensive standpoint, has gone 1-for-2 with an RBI in the postseason. Here’s the full lineup: Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF), Dustin Harris (LF), Manny Machado (3B), Ty France (1B), Jackson Merrill (CF), Xander Bogaerts (SS), Salas (C), Luis Campusano (DH) and Jake Cronenworth (2B).

Salas will be the youngest player in baseball history to catch a postseason game when he makes his playoff debut at just 20 years old in this one. The Padres have a chance to punch their ticket to the NLDS after scoring eight runs during a Game 1 blowout victory on Tuesday night at Petco Park. Here’s the full lineup: Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF), Dustin Harris (LF), Manny Machado (3B), Ty France (1B), Jackson Merrill (CF), Xander Bogaerts (SS), Salas (C), Austin Hays (DH) and Jake Cronenworth (2B).

Machado hit one of three homers for the Padres with a solo blast in the first off Matthew Boyd. The 34-year-old then doubled home Fernando Tatís Jr., and he also drew a walk. Machado and the Padres will have a chance to get to the NLDS with a win Wednesday.

The biggest surprise here is sparkplug Samad Taylor getting a chance to face Cubs lefty Matthew Boyd in the second spot in the order with Dustin Harris presumably set to come off the bench in his place once Chicago goes to the bullpen. Here’s the full lineup as San Diego kicks off the postseason at Petco Park with Michael King on the hill: Tatis Jr. (RF), Taylor (LF), Manny Machado (3B), Ty France (1B), Jackson Merrill (CF), Austin Hays (DH), Xander Bogaerts (SS), Jake Cronenworth (2B) and Luis Campusano (C).

With the win, the Padres have clinched the top Wild Card spot, and they will host the Cubs beginning Tuesday. The Phillies should also be thanking Machado, as that homer means a win over the Rays — or another loss by Arizona — gives them the final playoff spot. Machado clobbered a three-run homer in the fifth inning, and it gives him an even 30 homers and 90 RBI on the season. The .216 average leaves a lot to be desired, but the power is still there for the 34-year-old.

The Padres are now one game up on the Cubs and Phillies for the right to host a Wild Card series. Machado’s homer off Yoshinobu Yamamoto was his 29th of the year and 398th all-time, tying him with Dale Murphy for 62nd place. The sac fly, which was hit just 243 feet and which greatly benefited from it being Fernando Tatis Jr. on third base, gave him his first three RBI game since Aug. 4.

Machado drew a walk in the fourth inning, then led off the seventh with a base hit before scoring on a sacrifice fly. He later came through in a big spot for the Padres in the eighth, driving in two runs on a base hit to tie the game before coming around to score. The 34-year-old third baseman is hitting .226/.314/.418 with 26 homers, 75 runs scored, and 80 RBI across 602 plate appearances.