Padres Notes: Jackson Merrill Remains Out, Manny Machado Praises Fans, NL West Race Heating Up

The San Diego Padres beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 2-1 at Petco Park on Friday.

The victory tied the Padres and Dodgers for the division lead. The National League West division race is close and Friday's victory helped keep San Diego in the race.

Before the game, the Padres got bad news regarding outfielder Jackson Merrill, who missed Friday's game with an ankle injury.

His status going forward is unclear, but he is crucial for the team's divisional and playoff hopes.

Finally, Manny Machado appreicated the support from the fans during the team's mid-week series against the San Francisco Giants.

Here’s more information on these stories and all the latest Padres news (click the headline for the full article):

Padres' Manny Machado Heaps Praise on Petco Park Fans

MLB Analyst Says Padres Need to Win NL West Over Dodgers

Padres’ Jackson Merrill Out for Series Opener vs Dodgers as Injury Concerns Continue

Padres' Jackson Merrill Provides Update on Status for Huge Dodgers Series

Padres' Fernando Tatis Jr Reveals He's 'Still Searching' Amid Home Run Drought

Padres' Ryan O'Hearn Was Surprised By His New Teammate

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