Dodgers Blow Chance to Clinch First-Round Bye in Frustrating Padres Loss

The Los Angeles Dodgers lost 5-1 to the San Diego Padres in a rough offensive outing that failed to capitalize on solid pitching.

If the Dodgers had won, they would have earned a first-round bye, but now the wait continues another day.
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The Dodgers left 12 different players on base, and the team went 1-for-9 with runners in scoring position.

Los Angeles totaled 10 hits and five walks, but they couldn’t deliver in high-leverage at-bats.

Teoscar Hernandez went 3-for-4, Kyle Tucker went 2-for-4, and Andy Pages went 3-for-4, which kept the pressure on the Padres’ pitchers.

But when key hitters came up before or after them, they failed to deliver tonight. Mookie Betts went 0-for-4, Max Muncy went 0-for-3, Tommy Edman went 0-for-3, and Freddie Freeman went 0-for-4.

Sep 23, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani (17) looks on from the dugout in the second inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

In his return, Ohtani went 1-for-4 with a walk, looking quite good at the plate in terms of approach. In fact, most of the team made good swing decisions, but they didn’t materialize.
and the bullpen did enough

Yamamoto, without a doubt, did enough to help the team win. He allowed two runs, four in total while he was in the game, with five hits and a walk.

He notched just four strikeouts and got 12 swinging strikes, showing his stuff wasn’t at its usual level.

Sep 23, 2026; Los Angeles, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) looks on in the third inning against the San Diego Padres at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

Most of the damage came on a two-run shot to Manny Machado, who punished a rare location mistake from Yamamoto.

Still, all things considered, five runs allowed would have been enough, given the Dodgers had 15 total baserunners.