Padres gain NL West lead after blanking Dodgers

May 19, 2026

Padres Top Dodgers Despite Struggles

SAN DIEGO – The Padres are currently struggling, owning the worst batting average in baseball. Their starting rotation is barely holding together. Furthermore, their run differential mirrors that of an average team.

However, they managed to secure a 1-0 victory over the Dodgers on Monday night, putting them at the top of the National League West.

If you’ve been keeping an eye on the Padres (29-18) and are puzzled by their success despite two of their star players batting a mere .207, this game provided some clarity.

Michael King delivered a stellar seven-inning performance, striking out nine and keeping the opposition scoreless.

They also received unexpected support from others on the team, including a homer from Miguel Andujar in the first inning off Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who had a solid outing himself.

Once they took the lead, they didn’t look back, with standout closer Mason Miller, a potential Cy Young contender, earning his 15th save in the ninth.

“When you’re leading in the seventh inning, you never lose,” said Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.

“It’s tough to score against Mason Miller,” echoed first baseman Freddie Freeman.

Miller didn’t start smoothly; he struggled early, with eight of his first nine pitches going awry, marking his second game this year where he issued two walks.

The Dodgers (29-19) failed to capitalize on their chances, stranding runners in scoring position each of their last four times at bat. Will Smith struck out, Max Muncy watched strike three go by, and Andy Pages grounded out to end the game, sealing the Padres’ victory.

What It Means

While rankings may not hold much weight at this early stage, the initial weeks hint that the Padres could again cause headaches for the Dodgers.

Over the past two seasons, the Padres have kept the division race intense, staying competitive until the very end. Last year, they led until August 23, applying pressure to the reigning champions.

This kind of rivalry could benefit the Dodgers in the long run.

But for now, it accentuates their inconsistent start to the season.

After showing some promise during a recent five-game winning streak, the Padres’ batters struggled on Monday, going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position and accumulating ten strikeouts against King and others.

Who Is Hot

Shohei Ohtani didn’t have a standout night, but he did manage to reach base three times, going 2-for-3.

After finally breaking out of a slump following a good series against the Angels, Ohtani got on base with a walk in the fourth inning, then added a single during the sixth, which led to a runner at third base due to a throwing error by Kim Hye-sung.

A similar scenario played out in the eighth inning when Ohtani singled after Kim’s walk. Unfortunately, both times, Betts concluded the inning with outs.

It encapsulated a frustrating night for the Dodgers at the plate.

Who Is Not?

The Dodgers’ baserunning made things easier for King early in the game.

Only two Dodgers reached base through the first five innings: Betts with a first-inning single and Ohtani with a walk. Both were caught attempting to steal.

In the sixth, they squandered a chance after a defensive miscue by the Padres. Ohtani’s swinging bunt led to an errant throw, putting Kim on third, but the late stop sign from third base coach Dino Eber hindered the opportunity.

Roberts reflected on the choices made during that sequence, acknowledging the difficulty in timing.

“You can’t predict how it’s going to unfold,” he explained, adding that decisions might have been different if they had clearer insights at that moment.