This story was excerpted from AJ Cassavell’s Padres Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

Much like they did last season, the Padres won their final series of the year against the Dodgers. This one, of course, rings quite a bit more hollow than last year’s NLDS upset.

Despite an impressive showing in L.A. this week, the Padres (almost certainly) aren’t going to the postseason. But the last couple weeks still feature their share of major storylines. Here are four things I’ll be watching closely down the stretch:

1. Blake Snell's Cy Young push
Hard to make a more emphatic statement than the one Snell made on Wednesday night. He held the Dodgers to one hit across six innings while striking out eight. In doing so, Snell lowered his Major League-best ERA to 2.43.

Snell appears to have solidified his place at the top of the Cy Young pecking order. He’s now posted an utterly remarkable 1.31 ERA across his past 20 starts. Snell is slated to make at least two more starts this season, possibly three, and if he continues dominating the way he has…

He’d be in line to become the first Padre since Jake Peavy in 2007 to win the Cy Young Award. He’d also join an elite group of pitchers who have won the award in both leagues -- Gaylord Perry, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens, Roy Halladay and Max Scherzer.

2. The Campusano question
At long last, Luis Campusano has assumed the role of starting catcher in San Diego. And after the trials and tribulations of his past few seasons, he’s thriving in it.

Campusano launched a three-run homer on Wednesday night in Los Angeles and is hitting .305/.343/.481 this season. Perhaps more importantly, he’s drawn rave reviews for his improvement defensively behind the plate.

“He’s just trying to establish himself as a guy that you’re going to count on going into next season,” manager Bob Melvin said. “Everything he’s done to this point would suggest that.”

The Padres need to figure out what they’ve got in their 24-year-old, high-ceiling backstop. Because with Gary Sánchez slated to hit free agency, they enter the offseason without any other big league-ready catching options.

3. Early 2024 roster battles
Campusano isn’t the only Padre looking to stake his claim to a job in 2024. The rest of the Padres’ starting lineup is set to return. But there are bench spots aplenty available.

Matthew Batten is making a nice case with his versatility. The newly promoted Eguy Rosario will also get a look.

On the pitching staff, Matt Waldron and Pedro Avila will be depth options for 2024, whether in the rotation or bullpen. They're each in line to receive three more starts.

4. Gold Gloves galore?
The Padres' team defense has been immaculate this season, and come November, they should have the hardware to show for it.

Fernando Tatis Jr., who has adapted seamlessly to his new position, is the presumptive favorite for the Gold Glove Award in right field. Trent Grisham has already taken home two Gold Gloves in center and is a candidate to win a third.

Meanwhile, Ha-Seong Kim has a case for the Gold Glove Award at second base -- or he could win the nod as the sport's best utility player. He's been outstanding wherever he's played -- mostly second, with some third and shortstop sprinkled in.

Unfortunately for the Padres, Manny Machado -- who was turning in one of his best defensive seasons through mid-August -- has been relegated to DH duty due to an elbow injury, which seems destined to hurt his cause.