Petco Park – San Diego

The San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers wrapped up their final Petco Park series of the season on Sunday morning.

The NL West Rivals traded two decisive victories this weekend, combining for over 26 total runs scored between both clubs. After such a wild weekend, it’s fitting that their final game in San Diego would be a series-deciding matchup.

Between both starting pitchers, the atmosphere couldn’t be more different. Michael King is fresh off his finest start of the 2026 season. Meanwhile, Emmet Sheehan is on a four-game losing streak. However, when it comes to these two rivals, first impressions can always be deceiving.

A mostly quiet first two innings completely blew open after a single from Shohei Ohtani drove in Alex Freeland. The Padres had a chance to immediately respond on their next turn thanks to a Sung-mun Song walk, but they failed to capitalize. This would be a running trend throughout the game.

The Padres would have to settle for tying it in the fourth inning. A solo shot from Manny Machado put the Padres on the board.

The Man. The Myth. The Manny. pic.twitter.com/3im73Ocz1p

— San Diego Padres (@Padres) June 28, 2026

However, things would get dicey for the Friars not long after. Without the benefit of a hit, the King would load the bases with the Dodgers. Another walk to Freddy Freeman allowed a baserunner to cross, making the game 2-1. A single from Mookie Betts added two more runs, making the game 4-1.

That would be the end of Michael King’s afternoon, with Yuki Matsui coming in to relieve him. He managed to minimize the damage, keeping two of King’s runners from scoring. While the Padres’ bullpen continues to perform miracles, Matsui continues his dominant tour. As of now, he remains one of the Padres’ most reliable arms.

Sheehan continued to be a thorn in the Padres’ side, allowing men to get on base but never overextending enough to let the Padres score. The Padres would have to try to get to the Dodgers’ bullpen if they wanted to change the tide of the game and win the series.

A hit from Xander Bogaerts cut the lead in half in the sixth inning. A hit by pitch allowed Miguel Andujar to reach first safely and pushed Bogey to second, but a strikeout from Song stunted their momentum.

The Padres’ bullpen continued to be dominant the entire last stretch of the game, allowing baserunners but no runs at all. This allowed enough opening for the Padres to strike. That being said, even with runners on, the Padres failed to score in nearly every chance they got. That’s been the mantra of the Padres for quite some time now, but against a divisional opponent like the Dodgers, it probably feels a little more dire than it would at any other time. Their final two chances to score in the eighth and ninth innings would both end the same way, with Andujar and Fernando Tatis Jr. both grounding out into double plays.

The Padres lose the series to the Dodgers, but have the chance to redeem themselves at Dodger Stadium next week.  For now, the Padres hit the road Monday to begin a three-game series against the Chicago Cubs.

The Cubs send out lefty Shota Imanaga (5-6, 4.40 ERA). The Padres’ probable pitcher is currently undetermined.

Fabian Garcia