Padres Surge into NL West Lead Ahead of Crucial Dodgers Showdown
Barely five weeks ago, the San Diego Padres looked like long shots in the NL West race. On July 4, they were reeling from a 2–4 road trip through Cincinnati and Philadelphia, sitting nine games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Now, the division standings tell a different story.
On Friday night, the Padres (69–52) open a pivotal three-game series at Dodger Stadium — not as chasers, but as leaders, holding a one-game edge over their Southern California rivals.
San Diego arrives in L.A. riding a wave of momentum. They’ve won five straight games, five consecutive series, and are an impressive 23–12 since Independence Day. Their latest triumph came Wednesday in San Francisco, where they completed a sweep of the Giants with an emphatic 11–1 victory, fueled by a seven-run second inning.
“We’ve played a lot of really good baseball,” manager Mike Shildt said. “Pitching’s been good, defense, baserunning. I’ve been really pleased the last week or so about the offense dictating the game.”
Fernando Tatis Jr. had two hits, two walks, and three RBIs in that win, including a two-run single that blew the game open. “We’re going out there confident every single day, playing good baseball, clean baseball — and that’s what we’re capable of doing,” Tatis said.
Dodgers on the Skids
The Dodgers (68–53), reigning World Series champions, enter the weekend on a four-game skid after a 6–5 loss to the crosstown Angels. For the third time in the past five seasons, San Diego and L.A. are locked in a fierce battle — a rivalry that’s spilled into the postseason, with the Dodgers taking NLDS wins in 2020 and 2024, and the Padres prevailing in 2022.
“It’s huge,” Tatis said of the series. “That’s what we’re playing for. It’s in our hands, how much we want it.”
Third baseman Manny Machado admitted the team wasn’t thinking much about the standings a month ago. “We played some bad baseball around that time, so we weren’t really looking up at that point,” Machado said. “We were just trying to get back in the win column.”
Trade-Deadline Boost
The Padres’ turnaround coincided with an aggressive trade deadline. They brought in Ramón Laureano, Ryan O’Hearn, Freddy Fermin, Nestor Cortes, and Mason Miller — all of whom have made an impact. Laureano is hitting .333 (15-for-45) with San Diego, while Fermin is batting .355 (11-for-31).
“Every player that has come in has contributed in a really big way,” Tatis said. “They’re a really big part of this team.”
Now, with the Dodgers looming and first place on the line, the Padres are embracing the moment.
“Clearly, it’s a series people are going to be paying attention to,” Shildt said. “And we’re just going to play good, clean, fundamental Padre baseball.”
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