The National League West division race is heating up as the San Diego Padres close in on the Los Angeles Dodgers, setting up the tightest battle between these two rivals in 15 years. The Padres beat the Giants. The Dodgers have now lost two straight games, while the Padres have rattled off three consecutive wins, bringing San Diego one game behind the division leaders.
Dodgers and Padres Locked in Tightest NL West Race in 15 Years originally appeared on Athlon Sports.
The National League West division race is heating up as the San Diego Padres close in on the Los Angeles Dodgers, setting up the tightest battle between these two rivals in 15 years.
The Padres beat the Giants. The Dodgers lost to the Angels.
— AJ Cassavell (@AJCassavell) August 12, 2025
The Padres’ NL West deficit is one game, as close as they’ve been in more than two months and as close as they’ve been post-All-Star break in any season since 2010.
The Dodgers have now lost two straight games, while the Padres have rattled off three consecutive wins, bringing San Diego one game behind the division leaders. If the Padres win Tuesday night against the San Francisco Giants, and the Dodgers continue to struggle with their current losing streak against the Los Angeles Angels, extending what could be a sixth straight loss dating back to last season, the Padres will draw even with the Dodgers atop the NL West standings.
The Dodgers have maintained sole possession of first place since June 14 and have held a lead over the Padres since April 27. Despite the Padres' surge, the Dodgers remain the heavy favorites to win the NL West for the 12th time in 13 years. However, after an active trade deadline, San Diego is making it clear that they're not just aiming for Wild Card spot. They want the division crown, a title they haven't won since 2006.
San Diego's recent form backs up their ambitions, winning 12 of their last 15 games, including a 4-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Monday night. As the Padres celebrated that win at Oracle Park, the Dodgers stumbled in Anaheim against the Angels, setting the stage for what could be one of the most intense divisional showdowns in recent memory.
The Padres' schedule only intensifies the drama with 13 straight games against division rivals coming up. That includes six more against the Giants and six against the Dodgers. The upcoming weekends are especially crucial, featuring back-to-back three-game series against Los Angeles, in L.A. starting Friday and then at Petco Park the following Friday.
It's worth noting that it has been nearly 15 years since the Padres entered a day of the season with first place on the line after the All-Star break. Fans will get a chance to see if San Diego can seize this rare opportunity as the division race reaches its boiling point.
This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Aug 12, 2025, where it first appeared.
Category: Baseball
