Padres keep rolling: 7-2 win over Guardians secures best start in team history

San Diego, California – The San Diego Padres are off to their best start in franchise history, securing a dominant 7-2 victory over the Cleveland Guardians at Petco Park on Monday night. The win extends the Friars’ record-setting five-game winning streak to open the season—surpassing their previous best of 4-0, set back in 1984, a year that ended in the team’s first-ever World Series appearance.

For a team still reeling from last season’s bitter playoff exit, this early momentum signals a fresh start. Padres manager Mike Shildt made it clear in spring training that his squad was entering 2025 with unfinished business, and so far, they’ve backed up those words with action.

While stars like Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr., and Jackson Merrill have been electric in the opening stretch, it was some of the Padres’ newest additions who fueled Monday’s victory.

On the mound, left-hander Kyle Hart made a strong impression, picking up his first major league win. After a standout season in Korea, where he led the KBO in strikeouts, Hart’s transition back to the big leagues is off to a promising start.

At the plate, offseason acquisitions Jason Heyward and Gavin Sheets proved instrumental. Sheets delivered a pair of two-run doubles—one in the four-run second inning and another in the three-run fifth—giving the Padres an early cushion they never relinquished.

“We’re having fun right now,” said Sheets postgame. “We’ve got a good mix of guys, and everyone’s buying in.”

The Padres will aim to continue their hot start as they wrap up their three-game set against the Guardians at Petco Park. After the homestand, they’ll hit the road for a series at Wrigley Field against the Chicago Cubs.

With the energy at an all-time high and the roster clicking on all cylinders, San Diego’s red-hot start has fans dreaming of something special in 2025.