After dropping nine of their last 11 games to the Diamondbacks, Rockies and Phillies, the San Diego Padres find themselves out of a playoff spot for the first time all season. The Cincinnati Reds, who 8-3 in their last 11 games, now hold a one-game lead on San Diego.

Much of this can be contributed to all the starting pitchers currently on the injured list (Clevinger, Darvish, Lamet, Morejon Paddack) and lack of depth in the minor leagues as the Padres, once with the most pitching prospects in the top 100 in the league, now only have one in MacKenzie Gore, who has dropped from no. 3 to 62 in the top 100 prospects ranking.

San Diego has depended on Ryan Weathers among other rookie starters and relievers this season, which does not seem to be a suitable condition for a team in the playoff race.

Now, they’ll have to face the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have won 13 of their last 15 games, and have one of the most talented rosters in baseball right now. While the Padres are 7-3 against Los Angeles this season, they have not seen each other with so many injuries on both teams. And the lack of starting pitching could be dangerous for the Padres who will have to face Julio Urias, Walker Buehler and Max Scherzer.

Pierce Johnson and Blake Snell will begin the first two games of the series. Tingler told the media that Yu Darvish may start one of the three games, although he would not commit to it. If not, Joe Musgrove will likely start Thursday’s series finale.

This series could make or break the Padres’ season as the Reds, who own a one-game lead over San Diego, face the first-place Milwaukee Brewers. If the Padres lose any games on the Reds before Sept. 1, it could mean the end of their playoff hopes as they face the hardest remaining schedule in Major League Baseball. The Reds have the second-easiest schedule with nine games against the Pirates, who they are 9-1 against this season.

If the Padres want to beat the Dodgers, they’ll have to depend on the offense to score runs and give their pitching a good-enough lead. The series begins Tuesday, Aug. 24 at 7:10 p.m. PT from Petco Park.