- The San Diego Padres World Series odds tumbled after Fernando Tatis Jr. was suspended by MLB.
- MLB suspended Tatis for 80 regular season games, effective immediately, for violating the league’s anti-drug policy.
- The Padres currently hold the third and final wild-card spot in the National League, two games up on the Milwaukee Brewers.
The San Diego Padres suffered a huge blow after superstar shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. was suspended 80 games by the MLB on Friday for violating the league’s Joint Drug and Prevention and Treatment Program.
Tatis’ suspension is effective immediately which means that he cannot play for the Padres this season and the first 32 games of the 2023 campaign. But probably more than those, Tatis will be unable to suit up for the Padres in what was previously expected to be a serious World Series run in the upcoming postseason.
San Diego collapsed down the stretch last season but after acquiring Juan Soto at the recent trade deadline, the Padres were looking forward to getting Tatis back soon to bolster their wild card chase and solidify their chances at winning the World Series. Those hopes are now in shambles after Tatis’ latest disappointment.
Padres’ World Series Odds Shift
At FanDuel Sportsbook, San Diego was at +2000 before the Soto trade, +1100 after acquiring the Nationals’ star, and back to +2000 after the Tatis suspension. BetRivers also had the Padres at +2000 before the trade deadline, +1300 after the Soto deal, +1100 before the suspension, and back to +2000 again after Tatis was suspended. Meanwhile, BetMGM listed San Diego at +2500 after the All-Star Break, 10-1 after acquiring Soto, +1400 after losing five straight games, and now at +1800 following Tatis’ suspension.
Caesars Sportsbook meanwhile had the Padres sink to 16-1 from 13-1. San Diego was listed at +2200 before the Soto trade and then went as short as +800 after acquiring a 23-year-old star outfielder. The Padres settled at +1100 before falling to +13000 when they lost five straight games. Now they are down to +1600 following the suspension.
In a domino effect, the Padres’ National League Pennant odds have also suffered from the Tatis suspension. According to Caesars, San Diego is now listed at +850 from +650 with the Braves climbing to +550 from +800. Bet365 US has faded the Padres to +900 to win the National League with the Braves improving to +600. San Diego’s longest NL odds are at BetMGM where they are now at +1000 with the Braves also overtaking them at +600.
Postseason Lineup Would Have Been Unreal
The Padres won their first game with Soto in the lineup then went on to lose five in a row. They have since won three straight games entering Saturday’s slate. But despite their early struggles in the Juan Soto era, the narrative was that their postseason lineup would be unreal with Manny Machado, Soto, and Tatis.
Tatis was expected to be days away from playing his first game of the 2022 season after missing the first four months of it with a fractured wrist, the result of a motorcycle crash last December. But after the suspension, not only will Tatis miss the Padres’ remaining 48 regular season games, but he will also miss the postseason, throwing away whatever hopeful narrative about San Diego’s postseason run. All is not lost, however.
San Diego is currently at 64-51 and currently holds the third wild card position in the National League. They are four games off the 67-46 defending World Series champions Atlanta Braves who hold the top wild card position and are two games ahead of the 62-52 Seattle Mariners for that final ticket to the postseason. With Soto and Machado in the lineup, San Diego is still a tough out for anybody in the postseason, if they do make it.
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