Javier Baez and Fernando Tatis Jr.’s battle of the shortstops is must-see television (Video)

Javier Baez gets the battle of the shortstops vs. Fernando Tatis Jr. going with this moonshot.

With two of the game’s best shortstops going at it at Friendly Confines, Javier Baez gave the Chicago Cubs the lead over the Fernando Tatis Jr.’s San Diego Padres on a 455-foot bomb.

Baez connected on Chris Paddack’s offering, blasting it deep over the centerfield wall and almost into the camera well on his majestic two-run moonshot. Not to be outdone, Tatis was able to get out of a pickle induced by Baez to miraculously end up at second base. These are two of the best teams in the National League right now, so anything less than a fireworks show would be so disappointing.

A game of baseball is always better when the two shortstops in it are among the MLB‘s very best.

Tatis would soon answer with a home run of his own.

Javier Baez crushes a 455-foot homer to give the Chicago Cubs the lead

Chicago entered play on Monday afternoon half a game back of the St. Louis Cardinals in the tight NL Central race. At 29-23 on the year, the Cubs have woken up in May after a very slow start in April. Perhaps they were hibernating? As for the Padres, the Friars hold a half-game lead over the San Francisco Giants in the ultra-competitive NL West race. They have the best record in the NL.

Overall, this series has the potential to foreshadow an NLDS ,or even an NLCS later on, in October. While the Cubs will probably have to win the NL Central again to get in, the Padres may not have to win the NL West after all. The Padres, Giants and the Los Angeles Dodgers have the three best records in the National League. Both NL Wild Card teams may be coming out of the West in 2021.

Here is to Baez and Tatis continuing to make great plays to help their respective teams win games.