The Padres loaded up at the MLB trade deadline with the hopes of competing with the Dodgers in the NL West for years to come. Now they face Los Angeles in the most consequential series of their season.
In one of three intradivisional LDS matchups, the Padres are coming off a three-game series win over the Mets to take on the best team in the National League, the 111-win Dodgers, against whom they posted a 5-14 record and never won back-to-back games during the regular season. The Dodgers became a bit of a footnote in the 2022 season, as they had the NL West wrapped up relatively early (unlike last year when they lost the division to the Giants and entered the playoffs as a wild card).
This Padres team is coming in with a certain swagger. San Diego looked dominant at times against the Mets and their impressive pitching staff, with Manny Machado playing like the MVP candidate he was this year and midseason role-player acquisitions like Josh Bell stepping up. The Padres also got Josh Hader some work in Game 3 of the NL Wild Card Series, and he looked as solid as he has in months since an inauspicious start in San Diego.
There was curiosity around who would start for the Padres in Game 1. As the only series to go three games, San Diego burned through Yu Darvish, Blake Snell and Joe Musgrove. Musgrove was outstanding in the Padres' Game 3 win, and now the Padres will give him the ball in a clinching game against the Dodgers.
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For the Dodgers, it was a team effort to achieve their dominance. Mookie Betts slugged 35 home runs, Freddie Freeman finished with a .325 batting average, and Trea Turner reached the 20-home run mark for the second time in his career. The Dodgers also had the best defensive efficiency in MLB by far at a mark of .729, nine points higher than the second-place Yankees.
They had four pitchers with double-digit wins, and despite questions about who can close games for them, they were second in MLB in bullpen ERA at 2.87. The standard in LA is excellence, and the Dodgers lived up to it.
The Padres are hoping for some October magic from Juan Soto, who is still walking at a high rate but still seems to be feeling for his swing. He batted .236 with a .388 OBP but hit just six home runs after joining the Padres. Now would be as good time for him to turn it around if the Padres are going to unseat the Dodgers.
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Here's what to know about Dodgers and Padres in the NLDS.
Padres vs. Dodgers schedule
- Game: Game 4
- Date: Saturday, Oct. 15
- First pitch: 9:37 p.m. ET
The Dodgers and Padres are playing a best-of-five series in which Los Angeles has home-field advantage. The first two games were played in Los Angeles, and the next two will be down I-5 in San Diego. If they go 2-2 through four, Game 5 will be at Dodger Stadium.
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | Channel | Result |
| Tuesday, Oct. 11 | Game 1: Padres at Dodgers | 9:37 p.m. | FS1 | LAD 5, SDP 3 (LAD 1-0) |
| Wednesday, Oct. 12 | Game 2: Padres at Dodgers | 8:37 p.m. | FS1 | SDP 5, LAD 3 (1-1) |
| Friday, Oct. 14 | Game 3: Dodgers at Padres | 8:37 p.m. | FS1 | SDP 2, LAD 1 (SDP 2-1) |
| Saturday, Oct. 15 | Game 4: Dodgers at Padres | 9:37 p.m. | FS1 | SDP 5, LAD 3 (SDP 3-1) |
* - if necessary
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How to watch 2022 MLB playoff games
The National League side of the postseason will be broadcast on Fox and FS1, meaning both NLDS series can be seen on those stations.
Padres vs. Dodgers live streams
For those who want to live stream the NLDS — whether it's Phillies vs. Braves or Padres vs. Dodgers — fuboTV carries the Fox family of networks, the exclusive broadcaster of this year's National League series.
Sportsnet NOW will stream NLDS games in Canada.
Padres vs. Dodgers odds
As of Oct. 10, Caesars Sportsbook is giving the Dodgers -225 odds and the Padres +185.
Updated odds can be found on Caesars Sportsbook.
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Padres vs. Dodgers tickets
Those interested in going to see the NLDS at Dodger Stadium or Petco Park can find tickets through TicketSmarter.
It's going to be hard to find a ticket under $100 in this series, with both the Dodgers and Padres excited to be back in play. The average ticket this series will be around $392, with the cheapest generally coming in the low $90s at Dodger Stadium and the $200s at Petco Park. The most expensive ticket is going to be $3,460.
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