The Dodgers and Padres begin the 2026 season with their first series at Petco Park, covering three of 13 scheduled head-to-head games. National League West competition has been limited for the Dodgers since 2013, but the Padres have been close in the standings for the past two seasons and are strong again in 2026. Dave Roberts, who played for both teams and has managed the Dodgers since 2016, remembers his first managed game against San Diego, when Kenta Maeda hit a home run during his MLB debut and pitched six scoreless innings to earn a win. The Dodgers have dominated since 2013, though matchups have tightened since 2020, including San Diego taking the season series in 2024. The Dodgers plan to stay focused on their own performance rather than tracking San Diego’s situation.
"“You know what, my first game that I managed was against these guys. So that was something I remember. Kenta Maeda hit a home run,” he said. “There's been a lot of good memories, there really has. I love coming here. It's a beautiful ballpark and the fanbase is great too.”"
"For Maeda, it went down as the only home run of his career and came during his MLB debut. He also pitched six scoreless innings against the Padres to earn the win. That night was Roberts' third game as Dodgers manager."
"“I don't think we really concern ourselves with anyone, to be quite honest, and I think that's the way we should think of things,” Roberts added. “It's no disrespect to any team. It's just, we got to keep our closet clean and play good baseball, and it'll"
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