Blake Snell will be back in familiar territory Saturday night, pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they host the San Diego Padres at Chavez Ravine in the second game of their rivalry series.
Snell spent parts of three seasons with the Padres (2021–2023), where he captured his second Cy Young award of his career in his final year with the club. He has long spoken about the challenge of facing the Dodgers, noting that beating the team you’re chasing is a priority when you’re in a Padres uniform.
Ahead of the weekend matchup, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stressed that his club can’t let up on the Padres, saying they must match the Padres’ intensity as the teams duel for position in the division.
Friday’s opener helped light a spark for Los Angeles. The Dodgers, who had labored through a rough stretch in July and August, fed off a nervous but energized atmosphere at Dodger Stadium. Clayton Kershaw set the tone by delivering six strong innings, and the bottom of the order supplied the offense with three timely runs. The bullpen closed out the final nine outs to preserve a 3-2 victory, snapping a skid and putting LA back in front of San Diego in the NL West standings.
What to watch for Saturday
– Snell’s return to the Padres’ colors will bring an emotional twist to the game as he faces his former club on the mound.
– Kershaw continued to show durability and poise in a start that helped reset the Dodgers’ momentum; his ability to go deep will be key again.
– The Padres will look to rebound offensively and find more production against a left-handed starter with playoff-like urgency in this rivalry series.
Overall, the series has already underscored how fiercely competitive this matchup remains. The Dodgers displayed resilience when it mattered most Friday, and Snell’s weekend return to the site of many battles between these two teams adds an extra layer of intrigue. As the season progresses, the ongoing back-and-forth in the NL West could hinge on performances in these high-stakes, divisional clashes. If the Dodgers can keep leveraging their depth and late-inning strength, they’ll continue to position themselves favorably as the calendar moves toward October.