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**Padres Lament Missed Opportunities as Dodgers Tighten Grip on NL West Lead**

SAN DIEGO – The San Diego Padres are facing an uphill battle to claim the NL West title after a disappointing stretch of games saw them fall three games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers with only nine games remaining in the regular season.

Frustration is mounting within the Padres clubhouse. Third baseman Manny Machado expressed his disappointment, stating, “We had a chance to take it over a long time ago, and we didn’t. So at this point, it’s just worry about us and go out there and just play our best game.” His comments reflect a sentiment that the team squandered a crucial opportunity to seize control of the division after tying the Dodgers atop the standings weeks ago.

A series of losses against the Seattle Mariners, Minnesota Twins, and Baltimore Orioles derailed the Padres’ momentum, allowing the Dodgers to regain their lead. Infielder Jake Cronenworth echoed Machado’s sentiments, acknowledging the team’s inconsistent play. “Have we squandered some opportunities to make up some ground?” Cronenworth said, “Yeah. We haven’t played good baseball consistently the past couple weeks.” He emphasized the need to recapture the form that saw them win five consecutive series earlier in the season.

The Dodgers’ magic number to clinch the division is currently six, meaning any combination of six Padres losses or Dodgers wins will secure their fourth straight NL West crown. The Dodgers face a challenging schedule, including a series against the San Francisco Giants, who are currently in a wild-card spot, and a series against the AL West-leading Mariners, as well as the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The Padres are set to begin a critical series against the Chicago White Sox today at 4:40 p.m. PT. Dylan Cease is slated to start for San Diego against his former team. The team hopes that he will be able to get them off to a good start in this must-win series.

[*You can find more Padres news and updates on Padres on SI.*]

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