Manny Machado is trying to remain optimistic about the state of the San Diego Padres, but that didn't stop the veteran third baseman from being rather blunt about his team's performance over the last two weeks.
"People are frustrated. The fans want us to win games. So do we," Machado said after Thursday's 6-4 loss to the Philadelphia Phillies, according to AJ Cassavell of MLB.com. "We're more frustrated than anybody. We want to turn things around. Everybody on this ball club is trying to do that. So we're going to keep working, just know that we're still in a good position, even though we're playing like dogshit."
San Diego's season has spiraled since taking a half-game lead in the NL West on May 18. Over the last two weeks, the Padres have dropped 11 of 14, with Thursday's result in Philadelphia being their season-worst fifth straight loss. The Phillies proved particularly troublesome for the Padres, sweeping the season series with ease over the last 10 days.
The slump has dropped San Diego to 32-29, leaving the team a half-game out of the final playoff spot and tied with Arizona for second in the division (pending the D-Backs' result Thursday). San Diego's offense has struggled this year, scoring the fewest runs in baseball and ranking last in average (.216), OBP (.291), and OPS (.651).
However, the Padres' bats have been even worse over the last 15 days, slashing a measly .197/.287/.333. Star closer Mason Miller, who's allowed only two earned runs in 25 innings this season, has pitched just three times in the last two weeks.
Manager Craig Stammen attributed at least part of the issue to his team pressing as a whole.
"Part of it's just a little bit of favor out on the field, something going your way. And it seems right now that everything's going the opposite," Stammen told reporters after admitting the now-complete six-game road trip was "not our best baseball," according to 97.3 The Fan.
"We gotta get a few breaks (going) our way," he added.
Machado tried to do his part Thursday, driving in two and homering in the loss. But the seven-time All-Star is hitting a career-worst .174/.262/.357 with 58 strikeouts and only 11 homers in 245 plate appearances in 2025.
Still, the 33-year-old echoed his skipper's optimism, saying he thinks the tide will turn soon.
"I don't think it can get any worse," Machado said. "There's only one way (from here): up."
