Dodgers vs. Padres in NL West showdown: Four things to know, prediction for weekend series at Dodger Stadium

One of many finest rivalries in baseball resumes this weekend in Southern California when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the San Diego Padres for 3 video games at Dodger Stadium. The NL West stays very a lot up for grabs with six weeks and one weekend to play within the 2025 common season. The Padres jumped the Dodgers within the standings earlier this week.

“We’re the place we’re at. We put ourselves on this spot,” Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts stated Wednesday when requested whether or not he is shocked his workforce is in second place (via MLB.com). “However no, I would not have anticipated us to be in second place proper now.”

Listed here are the main points for this weekend’s collection in Chavez Ravine. Choose video games could be streamed regionally on fubo (strive without spending a dime).

The Padres have been dealt a blow Thursday when righty Michael King was positioned on the injured listing with knee irritation. He had simply returned from a shoulder situation that sidelined him for shut to a few months. King made one two-inning begin final Saturday after which went proper again on the injured listing. Righty Randy Vásquez was referred to as as much as fill the roster spot.

As of Thursday, Kershaw was the one beginning pitcher to have been formally introduced for the collection. Vásquez was lined as much as pitch in King’s spot Friday, if the Padres need to go that manner. If the 2 groups preserve their rotations on flip, Saturday traces as much as be Dylan Stop vs. Blake Snell, and Sunday traces as much as be Yu Darvish vs. Tyler Glasnow. For now, that is all topic to vary.

The Padres (-126) are favored in Friday’s collection opener on the Dodgers (+105), in response to FanDuel. The over-under is about at 9.5.

Right here now are 4 issues to find out about this weekend’s Dodger vs. Padres collection, plus a prediction, as a result of why not?

1. The roles have been reversed

As not too long ago as July 3, the Dodgers had what appeared like a cushty nine-game lead within the NL West. They go into this weekend’s showdown as a second-place workforce. Los Angeles has gone 12-21 since July 3, whereas the Padres have gone 23-12 to storm into first place. That nine-game lead evaporated in six weeks.

Here is the NL West standings earlier than and after:

The Dodgers will not be alone in blowing a giant division lead this 12 months. The New York Yankees had a seven-game lead vanish. The Chicago Cubs went from 6 ½ video games as much as eight video games again in two months. The Houston Astros had a seven-game lead disappear in solely 5 weeks (although they’ve since gone again up 1 ½ video games). Blown division leads is the theme of 2025, I suppose.

I doubt that makes the Dodgers really feel higher about issues, although. As an alternative of cruising to their twelfth division title in 13 years, they must sweat issues out these previous couple of weeks. The Dodgers left the door open for the Padres and San Diego has barged proper in.

2. The Dodgers lead the season collection

Division rivals play 13 video games throughout 4 collection every year and that is the third collection between the Dodgers and Padres in 2025. Los Angeles leads the season collection 5-2 with six video games remaining. Listed here are the head-to-head outcomes:

Petco Park

Dodger Stadium

Two extra head-to-head wins will clinch the season collection and thus the tiebreaker for the Dodgers. That is a giant deal. This figures to be a good race the remainder of the 12 months, and if the Dodgers and Padres end with an identical data, the winner of the season collection will get the NL West title. Two wins of their six remaining head-to-head video games clinch the tiebreaker for Los Angeles.

The tiebreaker will not be some lengthy shot both. The 2022 NL East, 2023 AL West, and each the second and third NL wild card spots in 2024 have been determined by way of tiebreaker. You’d quite have the tiebreaker and never want it than want it and never have it.

3. They’re going to see one another once more quickly

We can’t have to attend lengthy to see these two groups go at it once more after this weekend. They’re going to wrap up their season collection with three video games at Petco Park subsequent weekend, Aug. 22-24. It is too dangerous the Dodgers and Padres will not play in September (blame the brand new, extra balanced schedule), however no less than we get them on back-to-back weekends in August. 

4. Who’s sizzling, who’s not

Baseball is a recreation of cold and warm streaks. Consistency is a delusion. A .300 hitter does not get three hits each 10 at-bats, and even hit .300 each single month. He hits .300 one month, .250 the subsequent, .350 the month after that, and many others. Naturally, some Dodgers and Padres gamers go into this weekend swinging the bat higher than others.

Listed here are three Padres’ hitters who’ve been at their finest during the last 15 days:

Previous to the commerce deadline, San Diego’s left fielders have been hitting an anemic .229/.283/.330 with seven dwelling runs in 109 video games. Going from that to what Laureano has given them since coming over from the Baltimore Orioles has been a large improve. One of many greatest upgrades any workforce made on the deadline, actually. Laureano has been an immediate difference-maker.

Fellow commerce deadline addition Freddy Fermin has had fairly the introduction to San Diego as nicely. He is hitting .355/.394/.484 since coming over from the Royals. Padres’ catchers have been hitting .211/.267/.329 with shaky protection earlier than the commerce deadline. Fermin has been a giant improve on each side of the ball. Two weeks after the actual fact, we are able to say the Padres have been a giant deadline winner.

On the opposite aspect of the coin, each Luis Arraez (.245/.281/.302) and Manny Machado (.239/.327/.304) have been going by means of it the final 15 days. Evidently, the Padres will want each to choose issues as much as maintain off the Dodgers and keep atop the NL West. Right here now are three Dodgers’ hitters who’ve swung a sizzling bat the final 15 days:

The Dodgers’ prime hitters have been their finest during the last 15 days. The dangerous information is Muncy was a late scratch from Wednesday’s recreation after feeling soreness in his proper aspect throughout batting apply. Thursday was an off-day, so we’re nonetheless ready for an replace. Dropping Muncy once more (he not too long ago missed a month with a knee harm) could be a giant blow.

Not too many Dodgers are swinging the bat nicely, apart from these three above. Mookie Betts has been higher of late (.280/.321/.380 final 15 days), although he hasn’t hit for a lot energy. Andy Pages has been stable sufficient (.250/.313/.318 final 15 days) however not overly impactful. The underrated Will Smith has cooled down a bit too (.179/.343/.321 final 15 days).

Prediction

Let’s shut with a prediction. I am going to say the Padres win two of three this weekend, which might stretch their NL West result in two video games. Their vibes are immaculate proper now and the Dodgers have main bullpen questions, the type the Padres do not need given their deep and overpowering reduction crew. I believe the Padres win on Friday, lose on Saturday, then snag the rubber recreation on Sunday. It has been foretold.