Takeaways from Padres-Braves Game 2: San Diego sweeps, setting up date with Dodgers

The ability to get clutch hits and build off them separates good and great teams. Right now, the Padres are showing all the signs of being a World Series contender. 

Braves starters let them down 

Even shorthanded, the Braves offense managed to score four runs in Game 2. But as was the case on Tuesday, Atlanta's starting pitching failed them and ultimately ended their season. 

On Wednesday, Fried lasted only two innings, throwing 45 pitches in arguably his worst start of the year. The two-time All-Star didn't look sharp, allowing eight hits and five earned runs, all in the disastrous second inning. 

Over the two games of the wild-card series, Smith-Shawver and Fried allowed eight earned runs over just 3.1 innings of work. No matter how potent an offense is, that's hard for any team to overcome. 

Padres starting pitching in good shape heading into NLDS 

While the struggles of Atlanta's starting rotation led to their demise, it's a strength for the Padres heading into the NLDS. After using Michael King and Joe Musgrove in the wild-card round, San Diego will send Dylan Cease and Yu Darvish to the mound to start the series against the vaunted Dodgers. 

King and Musgrove pitched magnificently for the Padres, combining for 16 strikeouts over 10.2 innings, allowing only six hits and one earned run. If San Diego can get the same kind of production from Cease and Darvish, it'll have a legitimate shot to down the team that finished with the best record in baseball.