The Los Angeles Dodgers are gearing up for a pivotal late-August clash against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park, with first pitch set for 9:40 p.m. ET on Friday, August 22, 2025. This matchup, broadcast on SDPA and SportsNet LA, finds the Dodgers striving to regain their momentum on the road after a series of mixed results and injury setbacks, while the Padres look to build on their recent surge and keep their postseason hopes alive.
After splitting their last ten games with a 5-5 record, the Dodgers arrive in San Diego with a 71-53 overall mark and a 30-29 record away from home. Their recent road trip included a hard-fought series against the Colorado Rockies in Denver, where the Dodgers dropped a tight 4-3 contest on August 18 before bouncing back with an emphatic 11-4 win the following night. Despite these ups and downs, the Dodgers’ offense continues to be anchored by the sensational Shohei Ohtani, who leads the team with a staggering 44 home runs and 83 RBIs, boasting a .285/.393/.625 slash line for the season.
Ohtani’s recent form has been nothing short of electric. He’s currently riding a five-game hitting streak, batting .353 over that span with a double, a home run, four walks, and three RBIs. His consistency in the heart of the Dodgers’ lineup has been a steadying force, especially as the team navigates a lengthy injury list that includes key contributors like Max Muncy (oblique), Brock Stewart (shoulder), Tommy Edman (ankle), and Roki Sasaki (shoulder), all sidelined on the injured list. The Dodgers’ depth is certainly being tested as they push toward the postseason.
Freddie Freeman, another cornerstone of the Dodgers’ offense, enters the series with a .306 batting average and a six-game hitting streak of his own. Over his last ten outings, Freeman has posted a .282 average with three doubles, two home runs, and six RBIs, providing crucial support for Ohtani. Mookie Betts has also found his groove, collecting hits in four consecutive games and batting .316 over his last five appearances. With Andy Pages contributing 21 home runs and a .274 average, the Dodgers’ lineup remains one of the most potent in the National League, even with several regulars out of action.
The pitching matchup on Friday features Dodgers left-hander Blake Snell squaring off against Padres veteran Yu Darvish. Snell, a newcomer to the Dodgers this season, has been tasked with steadying the rotation amid injuries to starters like Tony Gonsolin (elbow) and Gavin Stone (shoulder). On the other side, Darvish brings a wealth of experience and a competitive edge, making this duel one to watch for fans of pitching battles.
Looking at the Padres, the San Diego squad enters the series with a 6-4 record over their last ten games, powered by an impressive 2.59 ERA and 9.6 strikeouts per nine innings from their pitching staff. The offense is led by Manny Machado, who’s batting .294 with 21 home runs and 77 RBIs—good for 41st in MLB in homers and 20th in RBIs. Machado is currently on a four-game hitting streak, batting .286 with two doubles, a home run, and five RBIs in his last five contests. Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Arraez provide additional firepower, with Tatis posting 17 home runs and 74 walks, and Arraez chipping in a .289 average and 27 doubles.
The Padres’ recent homestand featured a trio of wins against the San Francisco Giants, capped by an 8-4 victory on August 21. With the Dodgers coming to town, San Diego will be looking to capitalize on their momentum and close the gap in the National League West. The season series between these two rivals has been fiercely contested, with the Dodgers holding the upper hand in recent meetings. In their last three matchups, Los Angeles has emerged victorious, winning 5-4, 6-0, and 3-2, respectively. However, the Padres claimed a 5-3 win back on June 19, showing they’re more than capable of taking down their division rivals.
Both teams have faced their share of adversity this season. The Dodgers’ injury report reads like a who’s who of key contributors, with pitchers like Michael Kopech, Kyle Hurt, and Brusdar Graterol all on the 60-day injured list. The Rockies series also saw the Dodgers attempting to snap a three-game road losing streak, a testament to the unpredictable nature of late-season baseball. Meanwhile, the Padres have had to navigate a competitive NL West, with every game carrying significant playoff implications.
As for the numbers, the Dodgers’ offense ranks fifth in MLB with a team batting average of .253, while their recent ten-game stretch has seen them average 5.5 runs per game and belt 15 home runs. The pitching staff, despite the injuries, has managed a respectable 4.81 ERA and 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings over that same span. The Padres, meanwhile, have averaged five runs per game in their last ten and hit 11 home runs, with their pitching staff keeping opponents in check with a 2.59 ERA.
The upcoming series will also feature marquee pitching matchups beyond Friday’s opener. Saturday’s game sees Tyler Glasnow take the mound for the Dodgers against Nestor Cortes of the Padres, while Sunday’s finale pits Yoshinobu Yamamoto against Nick Pivetta. These contests could very well shape the playoff picture in the National League, with both teams jockeying for position as the regular season winds down.
For fans eager to catch the action, the Dodgers-Padres series will be televised on SDPA and SportsNet LA, with live box scores and updates available on Fox Sports. The anticipation is palpable as both teams look to make a statement in one of baseball’s fiercest rivalries. Will the Dodgers’ star power and depth carry them through, or will the Padres leverage their home-field advantage and recent hot streak to turn the tide?
With Shohei Ohtani and Manny Machado headlining the lineups, and Blake Snell and Yu Darvish set to duel on the mound, Friday night’s showdown at PETCO Park promises high drama and playoff intensity. As the regular season enters its final stretch, every pitch, every at-bat, and every managerial decision takes on added significance. Fans can expect nothing less than a thrilling contest as these two NL West heavyweights collide under the San Diego lights.
As the Dodgers and Padres prepare to square off, all eyes will be on PETCO Park to see which team can seize the moment and set the tone for the series—and perhaps, the rest of the season. Stay tuned, because this rivalry is far from settled.
