Three things

They could be dead wrong, but two scouts suggest the low-fastball rates of Joe Musgrove (29.3 percent) and Darvish (33 percent) may not bode well for a dominant October. By then, hitters reputedly are more acclimated to breaking balls. Then again, you can’t pitch in the postseason if you don’t win enough games to get there.

Remember Adrian Gonzalez’s great 2010 season, a big factor in the Padres’ most recent winning season (90-72) of 162 games? Phillies lefty slugger Kyle Schwarber is doing an apt Gonzo imitation: he rests the bat on his shoulder, appears ultra-relaxed and smartly hunts pitches, such as the Nabil Crismatt change-up — a few inches wide — he hammered over Petco Park’s left-field wall Sunday for three runs. In 2010, Gonzalez borrowed an extra-long bat belonging to Phils slugger Ryan Howard and blasted extra-base opposite-field doubles and homers (reminder: back then, Petco played much bigger).

Darvish did a credible job Sunday, allowing three runs in six innings. But greatness seemed possible, as he had three good pitches (fastball, cutter, slider), was fully built up, faced a diluted lineup and received five runs. In fairness, a misjudged fly ball and muffed cutoff increased Darvish’s workload. Credit the Phillies, who lacked 2021 MVP Bryce Harper and good hitter Jean Segura, and were playing their 11th road game in 11 days. However unfortunate, the Padres (45-30) are among the beneficiaries to Blake Snell’s wayward pitch that broke Harper’s thumb and weakened the Phils (39-35). Both high-payroll teams seek no worse than the third wild card.