The Padres didn’t clinch on Wednesday night. But they can still do so on Thursday -- and they might not even need to take the field to do it. San Diego took another step toward the playoffs on Wednesday with a 5-1 victory over the Dodgers.

Either that, or excruciating … but these teams and their rival fan bases well might see each other in October for the fourth time in the seven years.

The San Diego Padres' magic number shrinks, Jason Adam struggles in another rehab outing and Manny Machado is seen by some as a trade candidate.