SAN DIEGO — The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres, separated by a half-game in the NL West standings, open their first series of the 2026 season with a three-game set at Petco Park beginning Monday.
The Dodgers entered Monday with a 29-18 record, while the Padres stood at 28-18, according to standings reported by multiple outlets including MLB.com and ESPN. The teams, both off to strong starts, are meeting for the first time this season in what has become one of MLB’s prominent divisional rivalries.
Monday’s series opener featured right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3-3, 3.60 ERA) for the Dodgers against right-hander Michael King (3-2, 2.63 ERA) for the Padres. Tuesday’s probable starters include Emmet Sheehan for Los Angeles and Griffin Canning for San Diego, with Shohei Ohtani slated to start on the mound for the Dodgers on Wednesday against Randy Vásquez, according to game previews from CBS Sports and MLB sources.
The Dodgers are the back-to-back World Series champions. The Padres, under first-year manager Craig Stammen, are aiming for their third consecutive postseason appearance.
“It’s always exciting to play the Dodgers,” Stammen said after a recent win. “They’re a great team. They’ve won the World Series the last two years. It’s always fun going up against the best.”
Both clubs have shown offensive and pitching strength early in the season. The Dodgers have outscored opponents significantly, while the Padres have been competitive in the win column despite some inconsistencies. Details on specific player performances in the Monday game were still developing as of early Tuesday.
The series comes as the Padres host a nine-game homestand and the Dodgers continue their road schedule. The clubs are expected to meet again later in the season.
Standings and game information were confirmed via official MLB sources and major sports outlets as of May 19, 2026. Further updates on scores and series results will depend on the outcomes of the scheduled games.
