SAN DIEGO -- Here are six quick thoughts ahead of a crucial National League Division Series Game 3:

1. I think about the Rally Goose a lot. It was such an utterly absurd moment. In that 2022 NLDS, the Dodgers still felt like "that dragon up the freeway." They'd beaten up on the Padres all year -- and for the better part of a decade.

Then, with San Diego on the verge of its biggest victory in the rivalry to date -- with the tension as high as I can remember it -- a goose landed on the field and everyone in the ballpark had a good laugh as it fluttered around the infield, chased by security. It was an unbelievable moment of levity. Then the Padres beat the Dodgers three straight to reach the NL Championship Series.

I bring up that goose because while this year's stoppage late in Game 2 was way less fun, I wonder how it’ll be remembered. At the very least, the Padres’ response seemed emblematic of the culture they’ve built.

"We always play for each other," said Jurickson Profar, who found himself at the center of it all. "When stuff like that happens, we seem to get a fire."

Added Xander Bogaerts: “What's actually crazy is that inning they all threw stuff out on the field, we all kind of got together as a team on the field -- I felt like we got even a little bit closer.”

2. There's lots of talk about the similarities between the 2022 and '24 series between these two teams. But I can't help but notice how different the dynamic is.

In 2022, the Dodgers were clear favorites, and it felt like it. This year, these two teams feel like equals. That's partly because the Padres won eight of their 13 regular-season meetings. It's also because San Diego posted the best record in the Majors after the All-Star break.

But it's mostly because the games between these two generally haven’t been lopsided (Sunday’s result aside). They’ve been excellent baseball games with the result usually hanging in the balance into the final innings -- dating back to their season opener in Seoul.

“It’s been playoff baseball since Korea,” Manny Machado said.

3. I'm not sure when we'll learn who the starter is for Wednesday's Game 4, but the options are fascinating. Martín Pérez is the most obvious like-for-like replacement for Joe Musgrove. There's also the possibility of a bullpen game (with Pérez potentially involved as a length option). Perhaps Adrian Morejon would start that game -- a lefty to face Shohei Ohtani and, if healthy, Freddie Freeman.

But the most interesting option is Dylan Cease on short rest. He's never pitched on three days' rest in his big league career. But he threw only 82 pitches in Game 1 and didn't throw his usual between-starts bullpen session. If Cease could pitch Game 4 -- even if his pitch count were limited -- Yu Darvish would be available on normal rest in Game 5 (if necessary) on Friday night.

"All options are on the table at this point," manager Mike Shildt said when asked about the possibility.

4. The Padres gave up a lot to get Tanner Scott. He’s making it abundantly clear why they did so.

While Ohtani has reeled off one of the hottest stretches by any hitter in recent memory, there’s one pitcher who has managed to make Ohtani look human: Scott. Ohtani is 1-for-11 with five strikeouts against Scott, including two in this NLDS.

“You’ve just got to look at him as another great hitter,” said Scott, who dominated just about everyone this season, posting a 1.75 ERA in 72 appearances. “Everyone here is pretty good. And the stuff he's doing right now is pretty unreal. But you've just got to look at one pitch at a time and not think ahead, just go after him.”

As long as this series goes, the Padres need to game plan to have Scott facing Ohtani during Ohtani’s highest-leverage at-bat. It’s worked so far.

5. Jackson Merrill and Kyle Higashioka are having incredible postseasons. I’ve particularly enjoyed the contrast in the way they’ve approached the stage.

Merrill, energetic as ever. Higashioka, stoic as ever. There’s no one right way to do it. But I think the important part is this:

“I love the personality of our club,” Shildt said recently, speaking generally about his team. “I love the fact that they're unique and they're themselves.”

6. A tip of the hat to David Peralta, whose second-inning home run on Sunday was the first postseason homer of his 11-year career.

“It’s pretty cool,” Peralta said. “I’m always ready for the opportunity to help the team. Got my chance today.”

Peralta didn’t start any of the Padres’ first three postseason games. Shildt gave him the start Sunday against Jack Flaherty, saying he liked the matchup. That move paid major dividends -- as did the signing of Peralta in the first place. He posted a .750 OPS in 260 plate appearances during the regular season, most of them while filling in for an injured Fernando Tatis Jr. in right field.

“He’s been a big part of why we’re here,” Shildt said. “What he did in Tati’s absence -- we’re effectively not here without him. So he earned the opportunity.”