San Diego, CA
San Diego Padres at L.A. Dodgers: How to watch NL West showdown, time, channels
After clinching a playoff spot on Tuesday, the streaking San Diego Padres will start pursuing their next goal in a Wednesday night game at Dodgers Stadium.
RHP Dylan Cease (14-11, 3.42 ERA) will make his final start before the postseason for the Padres and RHP Jack Flaherty (13-7, 3.10), who is limiting opposing hitters to a .233 average, will start for the Dodgers.
Game time is 10:10 p.m. EDT and you can watch it on the MLB Network or live stream it on ESPN+, fubo TV (add-on, FREE trial), DirecTV Stream (add-on, FREE trial) or Sling TV (add-on discount).
Manny Machado started a game-ending triple play and the Padres (91-66) clinched a postseason berth Tuesday night with a 4-2 victory in Game 1 of the three-game series against the Dodgers. Jake Cronenworth hit an early two-run homer for the streaking Padres, assured at least a National League wild card with five games left in the regular season.
They moved two games behind NL West-leading Los Angeles (93-64), with two games remaining in their critical series at Dodger Stadium.
The second-place Padres have won four in a row and nine of 10. San Diego owns the tiebreaker against Los Angeles with an 8-3 record in head-to-head matchups.
“We’re going to enjoy tonight, enjoy this game, enjoy the celebration,” Machado told reporters afterward, “but the job’s not finished yet.”
The Dodgers’ magic number remained four to clinch the division title.
- WATCH: MLB Network or live stream it on ESPN+, fubo TV (add-on, FREE trial), DirecTV Stream (add-on, FREE trial) or Sling TV (add-on discount)
San Diego’s win came in front of 50,369 fans who created a playoff atmosphere for the opener of the huge three-game series. They chanted “MVP! MVP!” at Shohei Ohtani while mercilessly booing Machado and Fernando Tatis Jr.
“How much better in a tough spot than with Ohtani in the on-deck circle we turn a triple play to end the game against one of the best teams in baseball?” Machado said.
The Dodgers scored once in the ninth inning to cut their deficit to 4-2, and had runners at first and second when Miguel Rojas hit a sharp grounder to Machado at third base. The former Dodger stepped on the bag and went around the horn for a triple play that ended it.
San Diego Padres’ Jake Cronenworth, right, gestures as he round first after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Tuesday, Sept. 24, 2024, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)AP
“We’ve got to give Manny credit,” Roberts said. “He made a heck of a play.”
The Dodgers hit into two double plays earlier in the game.
San Diego’s celebration was delayed when the Dodgers challenged the out call at second base, but the ruling was upheld following a replay review.
“It’s shocking,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of the ending. “It’s the least likely outcome.”