Merrill injured, Suarez blows big lead on a tough night for Padres (Jesse Friedman, MLB.com) Tatis reaches base 3 times to end cold spell in Padres’ loss to D-backs (Jesse Friedman, MLB.com)

With a chance to sweep the Padres, the offense was flat and the pitching was not on point in the series finale.

The San Diego Padres entered the weekend with a 4-6 record in their last 10 games, but they still have one of the best records in the National League. With the MLB trade deadline just over a month out, San Diego is reportedly willing to be aggressive to upgrade one key spot in its lineup.

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The San Diego Padres are placing outfielder Jackson Merrill on the injured list, following a tough blow he took in a game Saturday.

The Padres offense finally figured out how to hit with runners in scoring position, building a 7-3 lead over the Diamondbacks, only to watch Robert Suarez, their All-Star closer, blow it in a head-scratching 8-7 loss that handed Arizona the series win and San Diego a third straight loss.

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.