Last week, the San Diego Padres delivered a dominant performance against the San Francisco Giants at Oracle Park, securing a series victory that was as decisive as any between division rivals.
The wins propelled the Padres into first place in the NL West, setting the stage for a critical weekend series in Los Angeles. However, their tenure at the top was short-lived, as they were promptly swept by the Dodgers. Now, San Diego finds itself in a familiar position: hosting the Giants for a four-game series at Petco Park with another chance to reclaim the division lead just before facing the Dodgers again.
While the Giants’ recent home stand was dismal, with only two wins in their last 15 games, they have the potential to be a formidable spoiler. As a division rival, San Francisco has ample motivation to disrupt San Diego’s ambitions and dent the team’s confidence.
For the Padres, their brief time in first place was the latest they had held the top spot in a season since 2010—a year memorable for the Giants overtaking them in September en route to a World Series title. While the current roster has no connection to that collapse, the modern rivalry is defined by San Diego’s struggle to overcome the Dodgers.
San Diego has had the upper hand against San Francisco recently, winning the last four season series and holding a 7-2 record against them this year. Even so, a series split or a Giants victory in San Diego could sow significant doubt for the Padres. Losing games at home to a team they so recently overwhelmed would force them to question their contender status ahead of another matchup with Los Angeles.
Several new factors will influence this series. Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill, who was instrumental in the last series against the Giants, is questionable for the opener after suffering a left ankle strain.
The Giants, meanwhile, have adjusted their roster, adding Christian Koss and Tyler Fitzgerald. While not marquee names, Koss brings a scrappy, contact-oriented approach, and Fitzgerald offers power potential. These additions could prove valuable, especially with San Francisco facing at least one left-handed starter. Adding to the Giants’ potential is Jung Hoo Lee, who has been on a tear since August 1st, slashing .339/.373/.518 with only six strikeouts in his last 59 plate appearances.
Series Overview
- Matchup: San Francisco Giants at San Diego Padres
- Location: Petco Park | San Diego, California
- Schedule: Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday at 6:40 p.m. PT; Thursday at 1:10 p.m. PT
- National Broadcasts: MLB Network (out-of-market) on Tuesday and Wednesday
Projected Pitching Matchups
- Monday: Robbie Ray (LHP, 9-6, 2.98 ERA) vs. Nestor Cortes (LHP, 1-1, 5.71 ERA)
- Tuesday: Kai-Wei Teng (RHP, 1-2, 9.90 ERA) vs. Nick Pivetta (RHP, 12-4, 2.87 ERA)
- Wednesday: Landen Roupp (RHP, 7-6, 3.45 ERA) vs. TBD
- Thursday: Justin Verlander (RHP, 1-9, 4.23 ERA) vs. TBD
Current Standings
- Giants: 60-64, 3rd in NL West; 6.0 GB in Wild Card, 11.0 GB in Division
- Padres: 69-55, 2nd in NL West; currently hold 2nd Wild Card spot, 2.0 GB in Division
While the Padres may be favored, the primary challenge will be avoiding complacency. A motivated Giants team, playing for pride and the role of spoiler, could easily complicate San Diego’s path. Before the Giants look toward the offseason, they have a prime opportunity this week against both the Padres and Dodgers to prove they can still challenge the top teams in the division.
