The San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers share the National League West, but their rivalry reached a new peak in 2022 when San Diego defeated Los Angeles 3-1 in the Division Series—their first playoff matchup since 1981. That victory marked a watershed moment for a franchise that had long played second fiddle to their more storied neighbors up the coast.
Geography, history, and the weight of tradition
Just 120 miles separate San Diego from Los Angeles, making every regular-season series feel personal. The Dodgers have won 8 National League pennants (1955, 1959, 1963, 1965, 1966, 1974, 1977, and 1988) and captured the World Series in 2020, while the Padres have never won a pennant. That gap in postseason success fuels the intensity whenever these teams meet. The Dodgers’ 56,000-seat Dodger Stadium stands as a monument to their organizational might—a reminder of why they’ve dominated the division for so long.
The 2022 Division Series: San Diego’s breakthrough
The 2022 Division Series was a watershed for the Padres. Led by Dominican-born Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr., San Diego toppled Los Angeles in a four-game series that many believed was unwinnable. The Padres proved they could compete with the Dodgers on baseball’s biggest stage, breaking a playoff curse that had haunted the franchise. That victory propelled them to the National League Championship Series and gave their fanbase a moment of vindication after years of near-misses.
The faces of the rivalry
Over the decades, players like Nolan Ryan (who pitched for both teams), Tony Gwynn (Padres legend with 3,141 career hits), and Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers ace with three Cy Young Awards) have defined this matchup. In the modern era, Manny Machado has become the face of San Diego’s ambitions, while the Dodgers continue to deploy elite pitching staffs anchored by Walker Buehler and Julio Urías. Every encounter between these teams carries the weight of individual legacies and organizational pride.
| Team | NL Pennants | World Series Titles | Playoff Meetings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 8 | 1 (2020) | 1981, 2022 |
| San Diego Padres | 0 | 0 | 1981, 2022 |
| Last Division Series | 2022: Padres won 3-1 | ||
Building toward the future
The Padres have made significant moves in recent years, adding talent like Xander Bogaerts and strengthening their farm system. With each passing season, San Diego inches closer to closing the historical gap with Los Angeles. The National League West is often decided by how these two teams perform against each other, and fans in both cities circle the six-game series between them on their calendars every year.
This is more than a division rivalry—it’s two cities, two baseball philosophies, and 120 miles of competitive fire.
FAQ
When was the last Padres-Dodgers playoff series?
The 2022 Division Series, which the Padres won 3-1. Before that, they met in 1981 when the Dodgers won.
Have the Padres ever won a World Series?
No. The Padres have reached the World Series twice (1984 and 1998) but lost both times.
Where do the Padres play their home games?
Petco Park in San Diego, which opened in 2004 and holds approximately 40,000 fans.
