Even the LA Times is reminding fans of Padres' success against Dodgers in 2024

To call the San Diego Padres' upcoming series against the Los Angeles Dodgers season-defining might be taking it a little too far. With a little less than week remaining in the 2024 regular season, the Padres are on the cusp of returning to the playoffs and are all but locked in to their playoff position as the NL's top Wild Card team.

But there's still a chance for the Friars to surprise the baseball world and knock the Dodgers off their NL West throne. Entering Tuesday's game against LA, the Padres trail the Dodgers by three games, meaning that a clean sweep of Los Angeles would put San Diego into a tie atop the division with just three games left to go.

The Dodgers have long stood in the way of the Padres' success, but this season, it's a different story. Los Angeles is a paltry 3-7 against San Diego this season, and no matter what happens over the next three days, the Padres have secured the season series. The Friars won just four games against the Dodgers last season and were a measly 5-14 against LA in 2022. But things are different in 2024, and even the Los Angeles Times is pointing it out.

Even the LA Times is reminding fans of Padres' success against Dodgers in 2024

LA Times' Bill Skaikin recently wrote a column titled Beat L.A.? The Padres could. Here’s how A.J. Preller and Co. made that possible. In it, Skaikin alluded to the Padres' turnaround into a playoff contender this season, and cites the San Diego's top decision-maker as a bit reason why.

With AJ Preller at the helm, in what may very well be his finest roster building to date, the Padres President of Baseball Operations has assembled a group of players that can not only make it to the postseason, but perhaps even make a run at the World Series.

In order to do that, the Padres have relied on their pitching more than ever before. San Diego has received big-time contributions from two of their biggest additions: Dylan Cease and Michael King. Throw in the unexpected production from former castoff-turned-All-Star Jurickson Profar and likely NL Rookie of the Year Jackson Merrill, and San Diego is looking to win the NL West for the first time since 2006.

The Padres have already secured their first 90-win season in over a decade, and a series sweep over the Dodgers would put San Diego in position to have home field advantage through the NLCS. Upon further review, maybe this is a season-defining series for the Padres. C'mon, Friars! Beat L.A.

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