What happened: Manny Machado has collected six extra-base hits over his last seven-plus games, including a home run that tied the score in the fourth inning. The surge comes as San Diego looks to its veteran third baseman to anchor a lineup that has struggled to generate consistent run production.

Why it matters: The Padres sit at 43-39 and have been fighting to stay in the playoff mix, recently slipping out of postseason position during a 13-game stretch. With the team averaging under four runs per game, a hot Machado is one of the clearest paths back to steadier offense and a stronger position in the standings.

What to watch: Watch whether Machado can carry this stretch into a longer run and lift a Padres offense that has hovered below four runs per game.