Manny Machado throws down the gauntlet ahead of Padres vs Dodgers blockbuster NLDS clash

Manny Machado and the San Diego Padres have taken one step closer to their goal of winning the World Series. On Wednesday night, San Diego completed its sweep of the Atlanta Braves in the National League Wild Card round, setting up one of the most anticipated postseason matchups of the season.

Thanks to their victory on Wednesday, the Padres have set themselves up for a date with the Los Angeles Dodgers. It will be a bit of a revenge series for Manny Machado, who spent 66 games with the club in 2018.

Many experts believed that a showdown between the Padres and Dodgers in the postseason was inevitable and now it will become a reality. Machado himself is aware of the hype surrounding the series, something he addressed in a postgame interview with MLB insider Buster Olney.

"I mean, this is what everyone wanted. It's been going on since Korea and it's been a hell of a year for both teams going back and forth. It's going to be an exciting series for us to go out there and play the Dodgers [1:37]," Machado said on the upcoming series.

The postseason matchup between the Dodgers and Padres will be must-watch television for several reasons. Not only did Manny Machado used to play for the Dodgers, but the two teams have continually battled for supremacy in the NL West division, not to mention the two stadiums sit only 125 miles apart.

Manny Machado and the San Diego Padres might have the edge over their division rivals

The Los Angeles Dodgers have long been considered one of the favorites to win the World Series this year, however, the Padres might have the roster to be able to pull off that upset. There is no denying the firepower that the Dodgers possess thanks to the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Mookie Betts, however, Manny Machado and company may have more depth.

Although the regular season is meaningless in the playoffs, the Padres finished the year with an 8-4 record against their rivals. It's not only the head-to-head record that suggests San Diego could pull off the upset, as its roster has fewer question marks surrounding it.

One of the most concerning areas for the Dodgers is their pitching staff. While they have plenty of stars such as Jack Flaherty and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the rest of the rotation has been decimated by injuries. Clayton Kershaw, Tyler Glasnow, and Gavin Stone are all currently on the IL, which could complicate matters for LA.

If Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., and the rest of the Padres roster are going to make it past the Dodgers, this may be the opportune moment to capitalize on their opponents' misfortunes.