San Diego Padres outfielder Jackson Merrill downplayed the Los Angeles Dodgers’ offseason when asked about their moves at Padres Fan Fest on Saturday.
The Dodgers have brought in two All-Stars in Kyle Tucker and Edwin Diaz, and are in a prime position to win the National League West for the 13th time in the last 14 seasons.
“I don’t really think anything about that,” Merrill said. “I don’t think that should be the focus. I think the focus should be winning baseball games against every team. I don’t think focusing on the Dodgers is going to help us win at all. I think when you focus on a certain team, when you get to play that team, you’re going to tense up and you’re not gonna be the same team.
“We’ve got to go into that series like we’re playing anybody else, that’s how it is. Everybody has a good baseball team nowadays. Nobody’s bad, pitching is good everywhere. They might have added a couple of bats and stuff, but we’ve got to go in and we’ve got to play hard. Thats the only way were going to beat them.”
How Did the Dodgers Perform Against the Padres in 2025?
The Dodgers had firm control of the season series against the Padres in 2025, winning nine of their 13 games against their NL West rivals. The Dodgers also outscored the Padres by seven runs throughout the season.
L.A. won the division again last year, finishing three games clear of the Padres in the race. The Dodgers didn’t meet the Padres in the postseason, as San Diego bowed out in the Wild Card round against the Chicago Cubs.
Los Angeles’ games against the Padres have grown increasingly fun to watch in recent years, with tempers often flaring when the two teams meet. This was especially true in 2025, when the benches cleared in the ninth inning of a matchup in June.
The teams took turns plunking players over the course of the series, and after Fernando Tatis Jr. wore a fastball in the final game of the set, former Padres manager Mike Shildt charged out of the dugout pointing and yelling at Dodgers manager Dave Roberts. Roberts left the dugout, causing benches and bullpens to empty.
With the Dodgers and Padres’ rivalry only getting more intense, L.A. will look to put talks of the Padres competing for the top to rest in 2026.
