Manny Machado struggles through an August hitting drought as the San Diego Padres push for the postseason. The recent power outage creates familiar concern during the stretch run. The Padres took the field against the Pittsburgh Pirates in late August 2026 during a crucial series.
Despite the hitting slump, Machado continues to strengthen his Hall of Fame case. Coverage from FanSided and Padres Mission notes that the slump is not the end of his or the team's overall story. His overall career case gains traction even as San Diego works through the current playoff push.