WASHINGTON, DC - APRIL 04: Manager Dave Roberts #30 of the Los Angeles Dodgers watches the game against the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on April 04, 2026 in Washington, DC. (Photo by G Fiume/Getty Images)

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The Los Angeles Dodgers fell to the division rival San Francisco Giants on Tuesday and suddenly the National League West race has gotten a little more interesting.

As the Dodgers endured a rare loss in their bid to win a third straight World Series championship, the San Diego Padres won their third game in a row, beating the Colorado Rockies on Tuesday. And even though the Dodgers remain baseball’s favorite to win it all, they are now tied with the Padres in the standings.

“After scoring 12 runs in Monday’s win at Coors Field, the Dodgers managed just three hits in the series opener against the Giants and have now lost three of four games — a momentary lull that has allowed the San Diego Padres (winners of nine of their past 10) to tie the Dodgers at the top of the National League West standings,” Bill Plunkett wrote for The Orange County Register.

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Still fewer than 25 games into the season, the Dodgers and Padres possess the two best records in all of baseball, with the other members of the National League West division, the Giants, Arizona Diamondbacks and Rockies, all posting losing records so far.

So it isn’t hard to imagine that the Dodgers and Padres will not only be engaged in some tense regular season series this year, but that they could also match up in the playoffs. The last time that happened, in the 2024 National League Division Series, players engaged with rival fans while on the field, items were thrown at players and Padres star Manny Machado seemed to hurl a baseball toward Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

Of course, that series ended with a Dodgers victory which then led to a World Series championship. And as the division rivalry looks to be just as competitive as ever, Roberts offered a dismissive take on sharing first place with the Padres at this point.

“I don’t think anyone is too concerned about the Padres and what they are doing,” Roberts said after Tuesday’s game, according to the Los Angeles Times’ Bill Shaikin. “It’s no disrespect to any team. We’ve got to keep our closet clean and play good baseball, and it’ll take care of itself.”

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With plenty of time left in the season, two consecutive titles under his belt and a reloaded roster, Roberts certainly has the luxury of focusing on his own team rather than anyone else in the standings. But the Padres, who have come up short in the recent rivalry matches, might feel a little differently.

The teams are set to face each other for the first time this season next month.