The 2022 National League Division Series matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres is only the second time they have met in the postseason, with both taking place since 2020.
Whereas the Dodgers and Padres both needed to win a Wild Card Series in order to play in the NLDS, only San Diego was tasked with first getting through a best-of-three. They did so by upsetting the New York Mets in three games, carried by strong starting pitching and timely hitting.
While some viewed the Dodgers and Mets as being on a collision course, there is palpable for the NL West matchup.
After winning the series at Citi Field, Manny Machado told Michael Eaves on ESPN that he believed the Padres and Dodgers playing in the NLDS is what fans had been clamoring for:
“I think everybody wanted this series. We’ve been looking up at them all year, and now it’s going out there and just trying to win three (games). That’s all that matters. Definitely the fans are going to be involved. Going up to Dodger Stadium to play two, then going back to San Diego, it’s been a while since we had a playoff game there in front of our fans, so that’s going to be epic. It’s going to be a helluva ride.”
The one-sided results Machado alluded to saw the Dodgers win 15 of 19 meetings during the regular season this year. L.A. accomplished that without losing a series to San Diego and outscoring them 109-47.
Machado batted .254 with three doubles, four home runs and five RBI against the Dodgers this season. He collected 17 hits over 67 at-bats, with much of that success coming when facing Julio Urías.
The Dodgers have not yet announced their NLDS rotation, outside of confirming Clayton Kershaw an Urías would start in some order in the first two games.
Padres vs. Dodgers NLDS schedule and start times
Game 1: Tuesday, Oct. 11, 6:37 p.m. PT (FS1)
Game 2: Wednesday, Oct. 12, 5:37 p.m. PT (FS1)
Game 3: Friday, Oct. 14 (FS1)
Game 4*: Saturday, Oct. 15 (FS1)
Game 5*: Sunday, Oct. 16 (FS1)
*if necessary
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