Teams Poised for October Renewal
The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are positioned to face each other in the postseason for the fourth time in seven years, according to a report from ladailynews published on Sept. 24, 2026.
Writer Alexander noted that such a matchup would likely be viewed as either "fun" or "excruciating" for the rival fan bases.
The two franchises have developed a significant rivalry in recent years, with San Diego’s stars, particularly Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, frequently drawing ire from Dodger supporters. Conversely, fans in San Diego relish the opportunity to defeat Los Angeles.
Tensions Emerge at Dodger Stadium
On-field tensions were evident during Game 1 of the current series on Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium. Brock Stewart’s first pitch to Machado knocked the third baseman down, an incident that prompted Machado to nod in acknowledgment before the crowd jeered.
The teams split the first two games of their regular-season series that week.
During Wednesday’s game, Padres’ Fernando Tatis Jr. watched the umpire’s call after scoring on a sacrifice fly by Machado as Dodgers catcher Will Smith made a late tag during the fifth inning.
Historical Context and Franchise Dynamics
Machado spent the final months of the 2018 season with the Dodgers before signing a 10-year, $300 million free-agent contract with San Diego. His departure remains a point of friction in the rivalry.
When the Padres defeated the Dodgers in previous playoff encounters, late owner Peter Seidler had predicted they would "push back closing time in the Gaslamp Quarter" following the victory.
The Padres knocked the Dodgers out of the playoffs in 2022 and had them on the ropes in 2024. Additionally, after the Padres eliminated Clayton Kershaw in San Diego in 2023, an image was posted on the Petco Park scoreboard.
Current Season Atmosphere
The Dodgers’ front office redoubled its efforts following recent playoff losses, with the possibility of a three-peat proving how much those defeats stung. To mark the occasion, the team gave fans replica Kershaw World Series rings before the first game of the current series.
While the teams were comparatively sedate in 2026, the underlying animosity remains palpable. This tension is reflected in Dodger Stadium’s recent marketing, where a hype video featured a narrator stating, “What’s wrong with being the bad guy? If being the best makes you bad, so be it. … If we’re being honest, sometimes it’s fun to root for the bad guy.”