Beat LA: Padres and Dodgers set to meet in NLDS
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Dylan Cease is starting Game 1 of the National League Division Series. Photo: Orlando Ramirez/Getty Images
The Padres' quest for their first World Series title resumes Friday in Game 1 of the National League Division Series against the rival Los Angeles Dodgers.
Why it matters: The Friars are now 11 wins away from delivering on late former owner Peter Seidler's vision when he took control in 2020 and turned the team into a contender.
Driving the news: Dylan Cease will start Game 1 for the Padres, bringing his 3.47 ERA to a matchup with a Dodgers offense that scored the second-most runs in baseball this year.
- For the Dodgers, Yoshinobu Yamamoto takes the hill after posting a 3.00 ERA in 18 starts season.
- First pitch is at 5:38pm at Dodgers Stadium and the game is on FS1.
- Game 2 starts Sunday at 5:03pm, also at Dodgers Stadium and on FS1.
Pro tip: The Padres are hosting watch parties at Petco Park for both road games and Game 5, if necessary.
- It's $5 for adults and free for kids shorter than 3 feet.
The intrigue: San Diego has made three playoff trips since 2020 (including this season), and all three will now have included an NLDS matchup against the Dodgers. Seidler called them "that dragon up the freeway we're trying to slay."
- In 2022, the Padres beat LA 3-1 before losing to the Phillies in the National League Championship Series. The Dodgers swept the series in 2020 on the way to winning a ring.
- "It does always seem to go through the Dodgers," general manager A.J. Preller said during Wednesday's locker room celebration.
What they're saying: "This is what everyone wanted," Manny Machado told ESPN, on facing the Dodgers again.
By the numbers: The Dodgers offense, anchored by all-world outfielder Shohei Ohtani, hit the third-most doubles and home runs and had the best OPS at .781.
- Ohtani will add to baseball's first-ever 50 home run, 50 stolen bases season by making his playoff debut Saturday.
Yes, but: The Padres' balanced offensive attack is plenty good itself: They led MLB in batting average and total hits and finished eight in runs scored.
- By runs-per-game, it's the best Padres offense in the two-decade Petco Park era.
What we're watching: The Dodgers' rotation has been battered by injuries this year, losing four starters for the season, not counting injured future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw who is "not giving up hope" on a playoff return.
- Dodgers projected Game 2 starter Jack Flaherty is coming off a bounceback 2024 in which he lowered his ERA to 3.17 from last year's 4.99.
- Padres starter Joe Musgrove's availability for the series is in serious doubt after he left Wednesday's game with elbow tightness.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to show the Dodgers' plan to start Yamamoto in Game 1 and Flaherty in Game 2.