This past weekend, the Padres arrived at Dodger Stadium with a one-game lead over the Dodgers, sitting atop the NL West after months of chasing them down. With both teams facing a week loaded with divisional matchups, the series had the potential to tilt the balance of the division. But things didn’t go the Padres’ way. They were swept, and in the process, handed the Dodgers back the division lead.
Once again, this begs the question: are the Dodgers and Padres a true rivalry—or just division rivals?
To many Dodger fans, the Padres have long been seen as the “little brother” down south. Even players like Max Muncy have dismissed the notion of a rivalry, insisting that the Giants are the Dodgers’ only true rival. Meanwhile, Padres fans and players have made it clear they’re gunning for L.A., reviving the classic “Beat L.A.” chant and fueling the fire with offseason moves and on-field antics.
At the 2024 trade deadline, the Padres made an aggressive push, including acquiring flamethrower Mason Miller, who was quickly told: “We don’t like those guys a whole lot.”
Historically, the Dodgers have dominated the matchup, leading the all-time series 538–434–1. While the two have been facing off for over 50 years, the sense of true rivalry has really only emerged over the last five seasons.
The turning point arguably came in 2020. That year, the Padres rebranded as “Slam Diego,” embraced a bold new identity with bat flips and brash swagger, and introduced a new era with Manny Machado and rookie phenom Fernando Tatis Jr. In the pandemic-shortened season, the two teams met in the NLDS, offering a first real glimpse at the budding rivalry.
That series gave fans plenty to chew on. In Game 2, Machado homered and tossed his bat toward the dugout, trying to fire up his team. The next inning, Cody Bellinger robbed Tatis of a potential go-ahead home run, and Dodgers reliever Brusdar Graterol threw his glove and hat in celebration—prompting an emotional reaction from Machado and some fiery words. The benches didn’t clear, but the bad blood was unmistakable.
From there, the heat only escalated. The Padres went all-in in 2021 and 2022, bringing in big names like Yu Darvish, Blake Snell, Joe Musgrove, Juan Soto, and Josh Hader. The late Padres owner even referred to the Dodgers as “the dragon up the freeway that we’re trying to slay.”
In 2022, they did just that—at least temporarily—beating the Dodgers in the NLDS after dropping Game 1, then winning the next three to advance to the NLCS. It was a major milestone in the Padres’ pursuit of legitimacy.
Heading into 2023, the Padres were flying high. Despite ultimately missing the playoffs, they opened their season series with a win and posted a meme of Clayton Kershaw crying, which didn’t sit well with Dodger fans—or the team. The Dodgers answered by winning the next two games and eventually taking the division crown once again.
Last season also saw tensions boil over. Gavin Stone was throwing a perfect game when Jurickson Profar got upset over a pitch inside, leading to both benches clearing. After the game, Dodgers catcher Will Smith commented, “He’s kind of irrelevant.” That moment set the tone for future meetings.
When the teams met again in the NLDS, the drama continued. Fans ripped a ball out of Profar’s glove in Game 2, and Manny Machado threw a ball into the Dodgers’ dugout between innings. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts used it as a rallying point after a tough loss. The Padres took a 2-1 lead in the series, and many Dodgers fans feared another early exit. But L.A. roared back, shutting out the Padres for 24 consecutive innings to take the series.
Fast-forward to June 2025: the two teams faced off seven times in 11 days. Benches cleared multiple times, superstars were hit repeatedly, and even the managers exchanged heated words. Emotions ran high—and so did the stakes.
Still, despite all this recent fire, the rivalry doesn’t yet have the long-standing depth of Dodgers-Giants. That storied feud dates back to New York, before both franchises moved west. The Dodgers have also won two World Series titles in the past five years, both times defeating the Padres en route. The Padres, meanwhile, have only one postseason series win over L.A.
So, is it a rivalry? Not quite—yet.
There’s definitely animosity, memorable moments, and fan passion. But rivalries take time. If these teams continue to clash in meaningful games, with postseason stakes and fireworks on and off the field, the title of “true rivalry” may soon be earned.
For now, though, the Padres are still chasing that dragon.