Jun 19, 2025; San Diego Padres manager Mike Shildt (8) talks with Los Angeles Dodgers right fielder Teoscar Hernandez (37) and first baseman Enrique Hernandez (8) as play is about to resume after benches cleared in the eighth inning at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Padres Manager Says He'd Love to Play Dodgers Again in Playoffs

Originally posted on Los Angeles Dodgers on SI
By Gabe Smallson | Last updated Aug 27, 2025 11:30 AM ET

The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres have had some intense battles in recent seasons, and it appears that the dramatic nature of these games are far from losing momentum.

Although the two franchises played their final regular season game of 2025 — the conclusion of a six games in 10-days gauntlet — LA came out victorious and won the season series, nine games to four. Per the schedule, this is the final meeting of the year, but fate may once again intervene and allow the two Southern California teams to face off in the postseason.

According to Padres manager Mike Shildt, that would be a welcomed matchup.

Shildt was asked on MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM if he would want to play the Dodgers again in October, and after he delivered quite the chuckle, he spoke candidly about what it would mean to see LA for the fourth time in the postseason since 2020, the teams' first-ever postseason matchup.

"Absolutely," Shildt said. "Yeah, that'd be great. Yeah, we'd love that, that'd be fun that would be really cool."

"Of course, I would love to play them again in the playoffs, ideally for the National League pennant," Shildt added, "but there's a lot of other teams we have to think about and prepare for as well, clearly."

Will we see a #Padres vs. #Dodgers postseason rematch?#ForTheFaithful | @Padres
https://t.co/6YbqEWFvEp pic.twitter.com/NsbuO82Cp8
— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) August 25, 2025

The two franchises have been towards the top of the NL West all season long, with the Dodgers never quite running away with the division in large part because of the Friars staying the course. Not to mention, a trade deadline for the ages from Padres president of baseball operations A.J. Preller helped fortify their roster.

Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts recently touched on the divisional competition helping out his team. He brought up examples of past seasons where the Dodgers have had no trouble in the regular season leading to potential miscues in the playoffs, whereas a tighter race leading into October can perhaps carry the intensity through the postseason.

“I kind of appreciate this because it forces us to play the whole season,” Betts said. “I remember my first couple of years we won the division with weeks left in the season.

“But now with being tied in the division, it’s going to help us in the long run.”