The San Diego Padres have a strong team, yet there is one glaring roster hole that needs an upgrade if San Diego wants to win the National League West.

Fernando Tatís and Manny Machado each drove in two runs in the 7th inning that gave the San Diego Padres the lead against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The San Diego Padres joined Major League Baseball as an expansion franchise in 1969. There was an expansion draft to select players from other organizations, but teams could protect 40 players — the equivalent of their entire MLB roster plus 15 prospects — and only the National League was involved.

The Padres need a bat. This trade season, that’s the bare minimum. They could use more starting-pitching depth. They could use another reliever. They could use a catcher. But they need a bat. (At least one.

Not wanting to further tax their overworked bullpen, the Dodgers bring Kiké Hernández in to pitch the final 2 1/3 innings of blowout loss to Padres.

Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts addresses the Manny Machado incident during the series against the San Diego Padres.

Four Major League Baseball players were reinstated by the league on Thursday after serving year-long bans for gambling on baseball.

Let's take a look at the series against the Padres and a preview of the Giants, who come to town for three games.