Padres vs. Dodgers showdown this weekend could swing the NL West race

The NL West race is coming down to the wire, as the Padres have stormed back from 7.5 games down to grab first place ahead of the Dodgers entering Thursday. It almost feels scripted, but both teams are just about knotted up in the standings and are set to face off against each other this weekend in Los Angeles. 

Chirping, hit batters, and benches-clearing brawls have been common between the two juggernauts. Most recently in June, when two of the biggest names— Fernando Tatis Jr. and Shohei Ohtani — got plunked a combined five times which eventually led to a benches clearing brawl that was started by the two managers in Mike Shildt and Dave Roberts.

Padres-Dodgers this weekend should provide fireworks as NL West race heats up

Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy even had the audacity to claim that the Padres weren’t even a true rival to them. Perfectly setting the stage for the first time these two met up.

Both teams have seen a lot of change to their rosters since the last time they faced off, so it’s hard to say who has the edge in this highly anticipated matchup. But it is pretty obvious which team improved more in the past month plus.

The Padres, as we know, addressed every positional need and then some at the trade deadline, adding a catcher who can produce offense, an everyday left fielder, and a more productive DH/1B. On top of that, they now have arguably the best bullpen in baseball. The front office really did acquire all of the pieces to take the team to the next level.

As for the Dodgers, they made a few moves, but nothing flashy. They added a solid bullpen arm in Brock Stewart from the Minnesota Twins — an acquisition that was 100% needed, as the LA pen has underachieved greatly in 2025. Then they made the move for Washington Nationals outfielder Alex Call, adding depth at the position.

When you look at how the trade deadline went for the two teams, it is obvious that San Diego filled far more holes than the Dodgers. That is why the Padres have closed a 5.5-game deficit since the All-Star break.

In about a week’s span, the Padres will face the Dodgers six times, three on the road and three at home. As it stands, this series could really go either way, so buckle up.