LOS ANGELES, CA — The Dodgers began a pivotal three-game series with San Diego tonight in LA before finishing their season with three games in Colorado. This series is very important to both clubs. The Dodgers opened up with a three-game lead over their southern rival and need to distance themselves further to ensure their 11th NL West Division title in the past 12 seasons. The Padres lead the NL Wild Card by 4.5 games and would like to widen that on the Mets and Diamondbacks.
If the Dodgers can take two of three this series, they increase their chances of winning the NL West and getting a bye in the opening round.
Padres superstar Fernando Tatis Jr., 2020 National League LatinoMVP award, looks to lead the way for the Padres in their chase for the NL West – Image Credit: Bill Menzel/Latino Sports
The Padres starter tonight, RHP Michael King, was the player San Diego wanted most when they traded Juan Soto to the Yankees. With a record of 12-9 and an ERA of 3.04 to go along with 198 strikeouts over 168.2 innings, I can honestly say the Padres are pretty happy with how things turned out for them when they acquired King.
The Dodgers started 27-year-old rookie Landon Knack, one of the many Dodger call-ups this year from the minors, to try to plug holes in a staff decimated by various injuries. In the last week of the season, the Dodgers ranked 15th in pitching, with a team ERA of 3.95.
Like many teams, the Dodgers have a ton of questions looking for answers with their pitching heading into October – Image Credit: Emma Sharon/Latino Sports
It is always said that good pitching will beat good hitting most of the time, and that is the Padre’s advantage over the Dodgers coming down the stretch. Both teams can put runs across the plate, but right now, the hot Padres, with their starters and bullpen, are edging closer to overtaking the NL Western Division.
The Dodgers scattered six hits over eight innings and finally scored their only earned run in the ninth inning on three straight singles off of San Diego’s lights-out closer, Robert Suarez, Bolivar, Venezuela, and then the impossible happened. With runners on first and second, no outs, and Shohei Ohtani on deck, Miguel Rojas hit a grounder to 2022 NL LatinoMVP Manny Machado at third, who stepped on third base, threw to second for out number two with the relay going to first for a game-ending triple play. Padres win it 4-2 to punch their ticket to the postseason. Wow!
A TRIPLE PLAY! TO SECURE A SPOT IN THE POSTSEASON! UNREAL! pic.twitter.com/NfbCRgt0Y6
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) September 25, 2024
The Dodgers lead in the NL West is now two games over San Diego with five games left in the regular season.
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