Toronto Blue Jays vs San Diego Padres Picks and Predictions May 20th 2025

Padres in Search of Clutch Mode During Visit With Blue Jays

Padres Look to Reignite Offense

The San Diego Padres head north of the border Tuesday, searching for answers after being swept at home by the Seattle Mariners. The biggest concern? A staggering 0-for-21 mark with runners in scoring position over the three-game series.

That futility included an 0-for-6 performance in Sunday’s 6-1 loss to cap a frustrating homestand. The Padres managed just three total runs over the series, with Fernando Tatis Jr. accounting for the lone bright spot — a solo home run in the first inning Sunday.

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“They threw the ball exceptionally well,” said Padres manager Mike Shildt. “No concern on my part at all. Just get back to playing our game. We know what that looks like. We’ll be ready on Tuesday.”

Jackson Merrill echoed those thoughts, though he knows the team missed crucial opportunities.

“We didn’t cash in opportunities this series,” Merrill said. “We got to the spots that we needed to be in, and we just didn’t capitalize.”

If the Padres hope to change their recent fortunes, timely hitting must improve — especially with a tough MLB matchup against the Blue Jays on deck.

Jays Hope to Finish Homestand Strong

The Toronto Blue Jays, meanwhile, are looking to salvage their nine-game homestand, having gone 2-4 after returning from a 4-2 West Coast swing that included a sweep in Seattle.

Toronto dropped two of three to the surging Detroit Tigers over the weekend. Each game was decided by one run, including Sunday’s 3-2 loss.

“We were in a lot of really tight games against a really good team,” manager John Schneider said. “Probably happen again on Tuesday. It shows the fight. It shows the will and the want to win, which is great.”

Still, the Blue Jays have shown glimmers of offensive improvement. Catcher Alejandro Kirk continues to swing a hot bat, hitting .377 over his last 14 games with two homers and 10 RBIs. Infielder Ernie Clement has also stepped up, batting .348 with five RBIs in that same stretch — including a walk-off single on Saturday.

Starting Pitching Matchup: Cease vs. Bassitt

San Diego will send right-hander Dylan Cease (1-2, 4.60 ERA) to the mound in Game 1. Cease has been dominant in limited action against the Blue Jays, sporting a 0.69 ERA in two career starts — though he hasn’t faced them since 2022.

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Toronto counters with veteran Chris Bassitt (3-2, 3.16 ERA), who will look to keep the Padres’ slumping bats quiet. He’s 1-3 with a 4.44 ERA in five previous outings against San Diego.

If you’re eyeing this matchup for value, take a look at these latest MLB predictions and picks — especially with both starters capable of pitching deep into games.

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Big Names Still Finding Rhythm

One big name Toronto hoped would make an early-season impact is Anthony Santander. The free-agent signing has been plagued by injuries and inconsistency, slashing just .182 with five homers in 41 games. He struck out three times in Sunday’s finale after missing the previous two games with shoulder and hip soreness.

“I thought he took some really good swings (Sunday),” Schneider said. “I thought he just missed some balls. That’s kind of been the story of his season.”

The Blue Jays will hope he can find his swing soon, as their offense continues to look for consistency despite key contributions from their bench.