The San Diego Padres built this roster to win on margins — advantages that become big in October. That’s why this news cuts so sharply. San Diego is now prepared to play the entire postseason without Ramón Laureano. It’s not fatal to their chances, but it shrinks the chessboard at the worst possible time.
The timing is brutal given Chicago’s plan to open Game 2 with righty Andrew Kittredge and then hand bulk innings to lefty Shota Imanaga — a clear attempt to steer the top of San Diego’s order into less comfortable looks. With their veteran down, the Padres were already heading into the series with one of their best answers to that gambit, both for quality at-bats against lefties and for late-inning run prevention in the corners.