The Penguin Sports Report.

On June 19th 2025, the Dodgers and Padres conflict hit what felt like the conflict of the regular season. Unfortunately, the Cubs robbed us of the sequel in the Playoffs. But there is still some drama that must be discussed involving these two franchises.

One side pushes that they are feared by the other, while the opposing side claims they turn a blind eye towards the other. The truth is, the Padres are somewhat of a threat(especially after their improvements at the trading deadline), but their timeline of being relevant shortens each season they don’t make significant strides towards being in the World Series. Especially, after basically trading their future to go all in now. Making the pressure for immediate success higher than ever, while the Dodgers currently seem to be chilling with an embarrassment of riches.

The abrupt end of the season for the Padres, and the Dodgers being back to back World Series champions, seems to leave the padres fighting to avoid drowning.

The Upcoming 2025-2026 MLB offseason will be a major one for the Padres, with key pieces either hitting free agency, or having options to decide on. The biggest of these names include: Luis Arráez(FA), Ryan O’Hearn(FA), Dylan Cease(FA), Micheal King(MOP), Ramon Laureano(COP), Robert Suarez(POP) and more.

With the likes of Dylan Cease most likely not returning, Luis Arráez seems to be their biggest target to bring back, but they’re recent performances have made it at least a little enticing for him to look elsewhere. Along with Robert Suarez most likely hitting free agency, the Padres will also most likely be without Micheal King and Elias Diaz.

But the problem with the Padres just don’t seem to have a good culture, which no question stems from their two stars. Manny Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr, don’t seem to emit winning energy. Constantly having cocky grins, making sly comments, consistently playing dirty, doesn’t exactly evoke positive clubhouse culture. While the Dodgers, while they may act funny at times, at least have positive energy. This also plays into the theme of winning leading to clubhouse chemistry, or clubhouse chemistry leading to winning? Which applies to both teams in this case.

The Dodgers evoke both winning leading to chemistry, and chemistry which leads to furthermore chemistry within the clubhouse. It also helps they have built a strong core that has endured a lot, with the additions of previous friends and pals.

THE GAME

The series already had drama with both sides exchanging blows, which started with Andy Pages taking offense to a culmination of hit by pitches, curtsy of the same team, the San Diego Padres. This lead to a couple of Padres getting hit. Which hit a sharp incline when Tatis was taken out by a high up and in fastball. This was met with an aggressive Machado hopping onto the field, at the same time Dave Roberts marched onto the field where the fight presumed.

Later on in the game, the 9th inning hit where Shohei was targeted by their hard throwing closer, Robert Suarez. The events that followed were more tame, besides the simultaneous groan of dodger fans, nothing dramatic happened afterwards. As Shohei waved off his bench from coming onto the field, and Suarez was ejected from the game.

Matsui would then enter the bottom of the ninth, where he would get into a slightly tense bases loaded altercation, but ultimately was put an end to when he K’d Rushing to end the Game.

In conclusion, the Padres are left this offseason in a state of needing to prove their worth to their “rivalry”, while the Dodgers currently have the right to claim they have no rivalry with the Padres. But there is no denying, we are all lucky to experience the energetic games between these two teams.