After only 39 games into the 2024 regular season, it’s a bit premature to consider any series ‘the biggest series of the season.’ But truth be told, this weekend’s three-game set with the division-rival San Diego Padres at what figures to be a less-than-friendly Petco Park, could very well set the tone for the remainder of the 2024 season – for both teams.

How so, you ask? A legitimate question. Although Dave Roberts‘ Dodgers currently hold a relatively comfortable 6.5-game lead over Mike Shildt‘s Padres in the NL West, should the unthinkable happen, that lead could be down to 3.5 games by Sunday afternoon – could be, but very unlikely.

As every Dodgers fan knows, their beloved team is currently riding an MLB-best seven-game winning streak and have won eight of their last 10 games. But here’s the thing. The Pads have won six of their last 10 and always seem to kick things up a notch when they play their neighbors to the north – especially at Petco.

Lest we forget the Dodgers and Padres split the two-game 2024 opening series in Seoul, South Korea on March 20 and 21, with the Padres scoring 15 runs on 18 hits to the Dodgers 11 runs on 16 hits in Game-2. Trust me, there is no love lost between the two division rivals, none whatsoever.

That said, with the Dodgers currently playing exceptional baseball right now – pitching, hitting, and defensively – and having just swept the Atlanta Braves and the Miami Marlins at Dodger Stadium, the Dodgers could very well enjoy a 9.5-game lead over San Diego come Sunday afternoon; and that would certainly be nice regardless of the fact that ‘It’s still early,’ as some like to say.

Yes, although ‘a bit premature to consider [this weekend’s] series the biggest series of the season,’ it’s hard to think otherwise.

Play Ball!

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