Newly signed San Francisco Giants outfielder Harrison Bader expressed his excitement over facing the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2026 season.
Bader, 31, signed a two-year, $20.5 million deal with the Giants on Monday and is already aiming to take down the NL West’s powerhouse.
More news: Dave Roberts Credits 2025 Dodgers’ Buy-In: ‘Not One Time Was I Questioned’
“Listen, it’s a great division,” Bader said on “The Max Mannis Pod.” “I think the biggest thing with that is just taking it one game at a time. Doing your research, trusting it, being OK with being wrong. The one that stands out are the Dodgers, which is awesome. I think it just gives you an opportunity to go out and compete against some of the best players in baseball — and that’s awesome. Dive into that energy, have a game plan and trust it. Go out there and execute. That’s really all there is to it.
“It’s certainly going to take a team effort to win those games, but just being able to compete at the level is going to be awesome. I love playing in LA. I love playing against the best in the world. They certainly have a bunch of those. And it’s a challenge for when it comes because it’s coming in hot in April. So I’m going to do my part, play my game and do my best to help my team win.”
In 2025, Bader played for the Minnesota Twins and Philadelphia Phillies, who fell to the Dodgers in the 2025 NLDS. He had three plate appearances in the series, going 1-for-2 with a sacrifice fly.
Over the course of the year, Bader batted .277 with 17 home runs and 54 RBIs. The .796 OPS he had last season ranked as his best throughout his nine-season MLB career.
How Did the Dodgers Perform Against the Giants in 2025?
The Dodgers dominated the Giants in 2025, posting a 9-4 record with a plus-20 run differential.
San Francisco finished the season with an 81-81 record, 12 games behind the division-leading Dodgers. Even with Bader’s addition, the Dodgers will look to hold the same dominance over their competitors in the 2026 season.
More news: Dodgers Infielder From McCourt Era Defends Team’s Recent Success
L.A. is on the brink of making history, as they’re looking to complete the first three-peat in franchise history and just the third since the beginning of the Expansion Era.
