The San Diego Padres’ 4-2 win at Dodger Stadium Thursday night was more than just another loss for the Boys in Blue; it was the victory the hated Padres needed to secure a playoff spot.
Dodgers Nation’s Noel Sanchez captured video of the Padres celebrating on the field after the game was over, an image that’s sure to stick with the team and its fans as the playoffs are set to begin soon.
Padres party it up at Dodger Stadium
Further insulting the Dodgers after the loss on Thursday, the Padres chugged beer out of a beer bong, smoked cigars, danced and took photos at Chavez Ravine.
The players were joined by the team’s new owners, José E. Feliciano and Kwanza Jones, and the exultations are sure to rankle Dodgers fans.
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Fernando Tatis Jr. danced on the infield grass and hugged Jones, and former Dodger Walker Buehler got in on the fun with Feliciano.
Buehler appeared to be supporting Feliciano’s turn with the beer bong, something he confirmed in a reply to Dodgers Nation on social media.
“It’s my thing,” he said in reply to Noel’s video.
What does the Padres’ playoff berth mean for the Dodgers?
The Padres’ series win and celebration in Los Angeles is just an annoyance for the Dodgers, who had already locked up the No. 2 seed in the National League playoffs with a loss by the Atlanta Braves.
That No. 2 seed comes with a bye for the Wild Card Round. The Padres, however, will have to play in those games next week.
As things stand on Friday afternoon, the Padres would have to face the Chicago Cubs in the opening round of the playoffs, with the winner of that matchup moving on to face the Milwaukee Brewers in the NLDS.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, would face the winner of the Wild Card series between the Braves and Philadelphia Phillies.
If the Dodgers knock off the winner of that series in the NLDS and the Padres down the Cubs and the Brewers, then the SoCal rivals could face off in the NLCS with a trip to the World Series on the line.
Given the bad blood between the Padres and Dodgers, that would certainly be an entertaining series, but both squads would have plenty of business to take care of before then.
For the Padres, beating the Cubs and likely NL MVP Pete Crow-Armstrong is no easy feat.
And for the Dodgers, facing the Braves (if they were to advance) would surely bring up painful memories of this summer’s sweep.
That said, the Boys in Blue flipped on its head a sweep by the Brewers last season.
Do you think the Dodgers can do the same in 2026 and, if so, who do you want to face in the playoffs?
