The Dodgers Say This is Just Another Series in San Diego

The rivalry renewed.

Yes, it's a little different feeling today -- a buzz in the air. The Dodgers and the Padres are squaring off for the first time in 2023. Last we saw these two teams play one another, San Diego stunned the LA bullpen and staged a come-from-behind victory that send them to the National League Championship series.

They slayed the dragon that won 111 games during the regular season.

That feels like ages ago now. Since then, the Padres added talent while the Dodgers reconstructed from within. 

It's setting up to be the biggest series of the year so far in baseball. But to the Dodgers, they say it's just another three games in May.

 “In all honesty, it’s another series," manager Dave Roberts said. “I don’t think we can look at it any other way. You can look at it in totality, we dominated those guys in the regular season and got eliminated in the first round. So if you look at it in the broader picture, it’s not that impactful.”

Mookie Betts shared his view for both clubs

“Neither team has anything to prove. You just go play. I mean, there’s 30 baseball teams. There’s no sense in worrying about only beating the Padres or only beating the Dodgers. To win the whole thing we’ve got to beat 30 teams.”

But, in all likelihood, these teams will match up again this October. Baseball has a funny way of working out like that. The Dodgers beat the Padres in the 2020 postseason and the Padres beat the Dodgers in the 2022 postseason. 

The tie-breaker is coming.

“The story has been built,” occasional closer Evan Phillips said. “We’d definitely like to have the opportunity again. It left a bad taste in our mouth, the way we finished last season. But we’re definitely not going to add any extra pressure. We’re content with who we are. We’re going to go play our game and expect to come out on top.”

Is Dodgers-Padres a legitimate rivalry?

— Dodgers Nation (@DodgersNation) May 4, 2023

Dodgers fans (at least on Twitter) are reluctant to call it a rivalry. They don't want to give Padres fans the recognition. Dave Roberts is finally saying it is.

“Yeah, I think it’s a rivalry. Obviously the geography but also with the way their ballclub has continued to get better every year, the roster gets better every year – I think the fans have completely bought into that. Both fan bases have bought into the thought of a rivalry. Now you layer in the media, I think, appreciates two good ballclubs. I think it checks all the boxes.

Clayton Kershaw gets the ball against old friend Yu Darvish in game one. First pitch is set for 6:40 PM PT on SportsNet LA and MLB Network.