The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres meet for the first time this season on Monday, May 18 at Petco Park and with just half a game separating these two teams, it could make for some intense baseball in this early season NL West showdown.
The Dodgers are back in the top spot in the divisional standings after briefly being surpassed by their rivals to the south after a five-game winning streak. The Dodgers bats woke up from a slump over the final two games of their home rivalry series against the San Francisco Giants and throughout a three-game sweep of the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim over the weekend with Shohei Ohtani seemingly turning a corner at the plate, but San Diego presents a different challenge than either of those teams.
Advertisement
The Padres also have gotten off to a slow start offensively. Fernando Tatis Jr. notably has yet to hit a single home run in 193 plate appearances this season and has a .581 OPS, almost 200 points under his career low of .771 in 2023. Manny Machado and Jackson Merrill, two of the Padres’ other most impactful bats, have yet to provide said impact yet, either, with Machado slugging .327 — he’s never slugged below .400 in his 15 big league seasons — and Merrill’s .206 batting average down significantly from when he hit .292 in his All-Star rookie season in 2024.
Both of these teams have been able to stay atop the standings due to their pitching, but in different ways. For the Padres, Michael King and Randy Vásquez have been two stabilizing presences in a rotation that has been decimated by injuries all season long. Both of them are due to pitch in this series. The Dodgers, meanwhile, relied on their starters in the first few weeks of the season, but that’s changed as IL stints to Tyler Glasnow and Blake Snell have depleted their depth. But with Yoshinobu Yamamoto, Emmet Sheehan and Ohtani (and his MLB-leading 0.82 ERA) all set to go in San Diego.
Advertisement
The matchups are set. The stakes in the long run aren’t all that high in May, but it’ll be an opportunity for each side to get a look at how they match up in an NL West race that could stay this close down the stretch.
1 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
April 21, 2026: Shohei Ohtani bats against San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp at Oracle Park.
1 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
April 21, 2026: Shohei Ohtani bats against San Francisco Giants starting pitcher Landen Roupp at Oracle Park.
2 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
Oct. 17, 2025: Shohei Ohtani celebrates with teammates in the clubhouse after defeating the Milwaukee Brewers in Game 4 of the NLCS at Dodger Stadium.
3 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
4 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
Oct. 4, 2025: Shohei Ohtani made his first postseason pitching appearance in NLDS Game 1 against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. The Los Angeles Dodgers prevailed, 5-3, and Ohtani got the win.
5 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
Sept. 9, 2025: Shohei Ohtani steals second base under the tag of Colorado Rockies second baseman Tyler Freeman during the third inning at Dodger Stadium.
6 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
Aug. 27, 2025: Shohei Ohtani is interviewed by Spectrum SportsNet reporter David Vassegh (right) alongside translator Will Ireton after a game against the Cincinnati Reds at Dodger Stadium.
7 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
Aug. 20, 2025: Shohei Ohtani delivers a pitch during the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
8 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
July 15, 2025: Shohei Ohtani does an interview on the red carpet before the 2025 MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park in Atlanta.
9 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
June 16, 2025: Shohei Ohtani makes his pitching debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium.
10 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
April 2, 2025: Shohei Ohtani is greeted at home after hitting a walk-off home run against the Atlanta Braves during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium. The Los Angeles Dodgers won the game, 6-5, on what was Shohei Ohtani bobblehead night.
11 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
March 19, 2025: Shohei Ohtani is introduced and enters the field before the Los Angeles Dodgers’ game against the Chicago Cubs during the Tokyo Series at Tokyo Dome. The Dodgers won the game, 6-3.
12 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
March 18, 2025: The scoreboard at the Tokyo Dome shows a photo of the Los Angeles Dodgers’ Shohei Ohtani before the season opener against the Chicago Cubs during the Tokyo Series. The Dodgers won the game, 4-1.
13 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
Nov. 1, 2024: Shohei Ohtani holds his dog, Decoy, as he walks with off the field his wife Mamiko Tanaka following the Los Angeles Dodgers’ World Series championship celebration at Dodger Stadium.
14 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
Oct. 31, 2024: Shohei Ohtani celebrates with the Commissioner’s Trophy after the Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the New York Yankees in Game 4 to win the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium.
15 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
Oct. 30, 2024: Shohei Ohtani (17) and the Los Angeles Dodgers celebrate after defeating the New York Yankees in Game 4 to win the 2024 World Series at Yankee Stadium.
16 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
Sept. 19, 2024: Shohei Ohtani reacts to a standing ovation from the fans after hitting his 50th home run of the season. He hit it against the Miami Marlins during the seventh inning at loanDepot Park.
17 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
Aug. 28, 2024: Shohei Ohtani with his dog Decoy after he delivered he first pitch before a game against the Baltimore Orioles at Dodger Stadium.
18 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
Aug. 24: Shohei Ohtani is doused after he joined the 40-40 club with a walk-off grand slam.
19 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
July 25, 2024: Shohei Ohtani runs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the San Francisco Giants during the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium.
20 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
July 16, 2024: Shohei Ohtani celebrates after hitting a three-run home run during the third inning of the 2024 MLB All-Star Game at Globe Life Field.
21 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
July 16, 2024: Shohei Ohtani walks the red carpet with wife Mamiko Tanaka before the 2024 MLB All-Star Game at Globe Life Field.
22 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
April 29, 2024: Shohei Ohtani breaks for third base against the Diamondbacks.
23 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
April 26, 2024: Shohei Ohtani rounds the bases after hitting a home run against the Blue Jays.
24 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
April 24, 2024: Shohei Ohtani gestures to his dugout at second base after hitting an RBI double against the Nationals.
25 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
April 23, 2024: Shohei Ohtani in the outfield during a throwing session prior to the Dodgers’ game.
26 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
April 21, 2024: Shohei Ohtani hits a solo homer against the Mets during the third inning at Dodger Stadium.
27 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
April 12, 2024: Shohei Ohtani is showered with sunflower seeds after hitting a solo home run in the first inning against the Padres.
28 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
April 9, 2024: Shohei Ohtani hits a fly ball against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field.
29 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
April 7, 2024: Shohei Ohtani gestures after hitting a one-run double against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
30 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
April 5, 2024: Shohei Ohtani hits a two-run home run against the Cubs at Wrigley Field.
31 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
April 2, 2024: Shohei Ohtani waits on deck in the first inning against the Giants at Dodger Stadium.
32 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
March 28, 2024: Shohei Ohtani makes his Opening Day debut against the St. Louis Cardinals at Dodger Stadium.
33 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
March 20, 2024: Shohei Ohtani gets his first hit as a Dodger in the third inning during the 2024 Seoul Series game against the Padres.
34 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
March 20, 2024: Mamiko Tanaka, wife of Shohei Ohtani, watches Ohtani’s debut as a Dodger in the season opener in Seoul, South Korea.
35 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
March 13, 2024: Shohei Ohtani signs autographs before the spring training game against the Seattle Mariners at Camelback Ranch.
36 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
March 5, 2024: Shohei Ohtani talks with former Los Angeles Angels teammate Mike Trout before a spring game.
37 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
March 3, 2024: Shohei Ohtani looks on from the dugout during a spring training game against the Colorado Rockies at Camelback Ranch.
38 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
Feb 21, 2024: Shohei Ohtani (left) and pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto poses during picture day at Camelback Ranch.
39 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
Feb 21, 2024: Shohei Ohtani poses for a portrait during picture day at Camelback Ranch.
40 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
Feb. 14, 2024: Shohei Ohtani takes batting practice during a Spring Training workout at Camelback Ranch.
41 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
Dec. 21, 2023: Shohei Ohtani and interpreter Ippei Mizuhara (right) pose with Los Angeles Rams mascot Rampage at SoFi Stadium.
42 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
Dec. 14, 2023: Shohei Ohtani and Dodgers manager Dave Roberts pose for pictures during the press conference.
43 / 43
Shohei Ohtani: Dodgers’ $700 million man in photos
Dec. 14, 2023: Shohei Ohtani is introduced by the Los Angeles Dodgers for the first time at a press conference at Dodger Stadium.
How to watch the Dodgers vs. Padres series this weekMonday, May 18
Location: Petco Park, San Diego, California
TV/streaming: Spectrum SportsNet LA (Dodgers), Padres.TV (Padres)
Tuesday, May 19
Location: Petco Park, San Diego, California
TV/streaming: Spectrum SportsNet LA (Dodgers), Padres.TV (Padres)
Wednesday, May 20
Location: Petco Park, San Diego, California
TV/streaming: Spectrum SportsNet LA (Dodgers), Padres.TV (Padres)
Dodgers vs. Padres pitching matchups
Monday, May 18: Yoshinobu Yamamoto vs. Michael King
Tuesday, May 19: Emmet Sheehan vs. Griffin Canning
Wednesday, May 20: Shohei Ohtani vs. Randy Vásquez
Dodgers vs. Padres lineups
Here’s the lineup for each team ahead of the series opener between the Dodgers and Padres on May 18:
Advertisement
Dodgers lineupPadres lineup
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Dodgers vs. Padres preview, lineups, pitching matchups