The Dodgers and Padres have shared a division — and Southern California proximity — for greater than 5 a long time. For many of that point, it has been arduous to name this a “rivalry” (no matter that phrase means, anyway). Recently, you could not presumably name it the rest.
The Padres and Dodgers have emerged as Nationwide League heavyweights, and after they get collectively, it is can’t-miss TV. It hasn’t all the time been that manner, however these two sides have seen their share of indelible moments over time. Listed here are a number of the most memorable:
2024-25 offseason: Sasaki sweepstakes
If the Dodgers had been all the time considered because the favorites to signal Japanese phenom Roki Sasaki, the Padres had been a minimum of considered as their main challenger. Positive sufficient, each had been amongst Sasaki’s three finalists, together with the Blue Jays. In mid-January, the right-hander selected the Dodgers, as a part of a lavish offseason for the defending champs. However not earlier than he’d visited San Diego and met with Padres gamers whereas figuring out at Petco Park. The Padres had been left empty-handed in a pursuit they’d been eyeing for years.
October 2024: Dodgers eradicate Padres with 24-inning shutout streak
The Padres had the eventual World Sequence-champion Dodgers on the ropes, main 2-1 within the NLDS with Recreation 4 at Petco Park. However L.A. responded with consecutive shutouts, gorgeous the high-scoring Padres, en path to the Nationwide League Championship Sequence. The Dodgers principally cruised previous the Mets and Yankees from there, with many noting that the 2 NL West rivals would possibly’ve been the game’s two greatest groups in 2024. Dodgers supervisor Dave Roberts later mentioned: “From my perspective, that was the World Sequence.”
October 2024: Roberts calls out Machado
A day after the Padres received a dramatic NLDS Recreation 2 — a recreation that featured an unpleasant second during which Dodger Stadium followers threw baseballs and different particles onto the sector — Roberts introduced up an incident from the center portion of that recreation. Between innings, as warmups had been ending, Padres third baseman Manny Machado threw a ball towards the Dodgers dugout. The 2 groups differed on Machado’s intent, with Roberts calling it “unsettling” and Padres supervisor Mike Shildt laughing off the thought. (Roberts would later acknowledge utilizing the incident as “a diversion” after a disappointing Dodgers loss.)
September 2024: Two clinches and a triple play
Trailing by 10 video games in mid-June, the Padres took the 2024 NL West race to the season’s remaining week, the place the 2 groups met for a pivotal three-game set at Dodger Stadium. In Recreation 1, the Padres secured their place within the postseason in probably the most dramatic manner potential — they grew to become the primary workforce to clinch a playoff spot by turning a game-ending triple play (across the horn, began by Machado). The Padres would have fun that night time, however the Dodgers received the subsequent two and celebrated their third straight NL West crown.
Jurickson Profar discovered himself in the midst of a number of Padres-Dodgers spats over time. Essentially the most notable of the bunch got here throughout a three-game sequence between these two groups at Dodger Stadium final April. Profar took exception to Dodgers starter Gavin Stone coming excessive and tight. He jawed with catcher Will Smith. After the sport, Smith would name Profar “form of irrelevant” in a radio interview. A day later, Profar hit a decisive bases-clearing double in a Padres victory. His teammates rallied by calling him “Mr. Related.” Smith later apologized for the feedback.
Might 2023: The crying Kershaw meme
The 2023 season was billed because the yr {that a} loaded San Diego workforce may take the mantle from the Dodgers within the NL West. And when the Padres received the primary assembly between the 2 golf equipment, they posted a picture of Kershaw on their videoboard with cartoon tears coming down his face. The Dodgers shortly obtained their revenge — successful the subsequent two video games, then cruising to a division title because the Padres endured probably the most disappointing season in franchise historical past, ending 82-80 and lacking the playoffs.
October 2022: Dragon slayers
The 111-win Dodgers received all six sequence in opposition to the Padres throughout the 2022 common season. That summer time, beloved late Padres proprietor Peter Seidler dubbed the Dodgers “the dragon up the freeway that we’re attempting to slay.” The 2 groups would meet in October, after the Padres made plenty of impactful Deadline additions, together with Juan Soto and Josh Hader.
The Dodgers received Recreation 1 of the NLDS at Dodger Stadium, however the Padres responded to win Recreation 2 (maybe aided by a rally goose). San Diego then received Video games 3 and 4 at residence, together with a dramatic Recreation 4 comeback that noticed the Padres rating 5 instances within the seventh inning. Jake Cronenworth’s two-out, two-strike, two-run single off Alex Vesia proved decisive. The Padres had slayed the dragon.
October 2020: Bellinger’s catch, Graterol/Machado feud
Performed at Globe Life Area in Texas, Recreation 2 of the 2020 NL Division Sequence was unquestionably some of the dramatic video games performed within the rivalry’s historical past. Within the seventh inning, Fernando Tatis Jr. despatched a deep drive to heart area, the place Cody Bellinger robbed him of a sure residence run. Brusdar Graterol, on the mound on the time, flipped his hat. (Sure, his hat.) When Manny Machado barked at him, Graterol blew a kiss again in his path. Tensions simmered, earlier than the Dodgers held on for a 6-5 victory — ultimately sweeping the sequence and successful the World Sequence.
Summer season 2020: Ultimately, a rivalry
The start of the fashionable Padres-Dodgers rivalry happened throughout the 2020 common season, because the Padres emerged as contenders for the primary time in a decade, whereas the Dodgers remained looking for their first World Sequence in additional than three a long time. Amid the pandemic-shortened season, the 2 golf equipment staged epic showdowns all summer time, as they fought for the NL West crown. Maybe the most contentious second got here throughout the remaining regular-season assembly when Trent Grisham homered off Kershaw. Throughout his residence run trot, he and the Dodgers dugout barked backwards and forwards, and Roberts would later name Grisham out for what he perceived to be an absence of respect towards Kershaw. Come October, the 2 golf equipment would meet once more.
April 2013: Quentin, Greinke collide
Essentially the most memorable benches-clearing incident between the 2 franchises happened on April 11, 2013, shortly after the Dodgers had made a serious offseason splash by signing Zack Greinke. In Greinke’s first begin in San Diego, he plunked Padres slugger Carlos Quentin, who took exception and charged the mound. The 2 collided in entrance of the rubber, and Greinke broke his collarbone upon the influence. He would miss greater than a month on the IL.
September 1996: Padres win division on remaining weekend
The most important motive Padres-Dodgers had by no means felt like a lot of a rivalry is an easy one: They often hadn’t been good on the identical time. The 1996 season serves as one of many greatest exceptions. The Padres and Dodgers staged an exhilarating race for the NL West crown. Getting into the season’s remaining weekend, the 2 groups had kind of secured their playoff spots, however they performed a three-game set at Dodger Stadium with the division on the road. The Padres wanted a sweep, they usually obtained one — with Tony Gwynn’s go-ahead, two-run single in Recreation 161 and Chris Gwynn’s game-winning double in Recreation 162. Trevor Hoffman saved all three video games.
December 1982: Garvey indicators in San Diego
Steve Garvey was a World Sequence champ, an MVP, an eight-time All-Star and a four-time pennant winner in Los Angeles. When the Padres signed Garvey forward of the 1983 season, it was a press release of intent: These weren’t the identical previous Padres. Positive sufficient, San Diego took residence its first NL pennant in 1984, with Garvey delivering probably the most well-known homer in franchise historical past — a walk-off blast in Recreation 4 of the NL Championship Sequence in opposition to the Cubs.
July 1982: Lasorda and Bevacqua commerce barbs
Maybe probably the most well-known one-on-one feud within the rivalry’s historical past noticed Padres utility man Kurt Bevacqua tackle legendary Dodgers supervisor Tommy Lasorda. That, on reflection, was most likely a mistake. Bevacqua colorfully referred to as out Lasorda for what he believed to be a objective pitch by the Dodgers’ Tom Niedenfuer to the Padres’ Joe Lefebvre. “The fats little Italian,” Bevacqua mentioned, must be fined for his position. Lasorda responded with an expletive-laden rant that goes down as one of many biggest tirades by a supervisor in baseball historical past. Eradicating just a few expletives, Lasorda mentioned: “I’ve by no means informed a pitcher to throw at anyone, nor will I ever. And if I ever did, I definitely wouldn’t make him throw at a .130 hitter like Lefebvre or Bevacqua, who couldn’t hit water if he fell out of a ship.”
