First-place Padres primed for NL West showdown with Dodgers

A month ago, with two weeks left before the trade deadline, the Padres were a respectable 52-44, but still sat six games behind the Dodgers for the lead in the National League West.

Now, two weeks after the deadline, San Diego stormed into first place in the division, just ahead of the start of a highly anticipated three-game series in Los Angeles.

And even better? The Dodgers, the team that San Diego just leapfrogged for a one-game NL West lead, are foundering.

It’s the series “people are going to be paying attention to,” manager Mike Shildt said.

The week ahead is key for both teams.

The winner of the series opening Friday at Dodger Stadium, and another three-game set between the teams next weekend at Petco Park, has a lot at stake. The teams do not meet again for the remainder of the season.

The matchup comes at a time when San Diego is riding a wave of momentum. The Padres have won five straight and eight of their last 10, including a three-game sweep of another division rival, the Giants. The 11-1 laugher to close out the series Wednesday cleared their path to first place after the Angels swept the Dodgers.

“The offense is really dictating and setting the tone and really taking over the game,” Shildt said after the win.

Which NL West team is more complete: Dodgers or Padres? pic.twitter.com/rBU8oIvLSU— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) August 14, 2025

The Padres have come out on top in nine of their 12 games since Aug. 1, the day after the trade deadline. And since the All-Star break, the team is 17-8.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, have lost four in a row going into this weekend’s series, and have lost six of their last 10. L.A. has a 10-14 record since the All-Star break and sits at 68-53 overall, just behind the Padres at 69-52.

Part of LA.’s decline is due to injuries to its pitching staff. And much of San Diego’s surge can be attributed to deals that general manager A.J. Preller made leading up to the July 31 trade deadline.

San Diego went on a tear, acquiring eight players, including left-handed starter Nestor Cortés, catcher Freddy Fermin, outfielder Ramón Laureano and right-handed pitcher Mason Miller.

In return, Preller sent away 14 players, in the process draining the Padres’ prospect pool – the Friar farm system is now ranked last in the majors. He included a couple of veterans, though, pitcher Stephen Kolek and outfielder Brandon Lockridge.

During his 11 years as the Padres’ GM, Preller has frequently been active during the annual trade deadline. Sometimes his moves pan out, and sometimes they don’t, but they always make a splash.

For example, at last year’s deadline, he traded for pitchers Jason Adam, Bryan Hoeing, Martín Pérez and Tanner Scott, and outfielder Brandon Lockridge. Only Adam and Hoeing are still with the team.

Scott, in fact, signed a four-year, $72 million contract with the Dodgers in January (but he’s one of their many pitchers on the IL).

This year, Preller’s moves have paid dividends, as evidenced by the team’s post-deadline hot streak. According to MLB, it’s been 15 years since the Padres have led the division this late in a season; since Sept. 25, 2010, to be exact.

But here’s a hiccup: Michael King is hurt.

For Friday’s series opener, King was scheduled to start, with veteran lefty Clayton Kershaw getting the nod for the Dodgers. But the Padres announced Thursday afternoon that King has been placed on the 15-day IL with left knee inflammation.

They recalled Randy Vásquez from Triple-A El Paso to replace him, but Friday’s starter is currently listed as TBD.

Dylan Cease and ex-Dodger Yu Darvish follow Saturday and Sunday against ex-Padre Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow respectively.

After this weekend’s series, the Padres return to Petco for a seven-game home stand against the same divisional rivals as this week, as they welcome both the Giants and the Dodgers.

The Padres-Dodgers series schedule:

• 7:10 p.m., Friday
• 6:10 pm, Saturday
• 1:10 pm, Sunday

All games will air on the Padres television network, PADRES.TV. The second game will also be broadcast on KFMB-TV channel 8, San Diego’s CBS affiliate. The games will air on radio stations KWFN 97.3 and XEMO 860.