The Los Angeles Dodgers still hold control of the National League West, but Walker Buehler’s start against his former team gave the San Diego Padres a needed spark Friday night.
Buehler spent seven seasons with the Dodgers and helped win two World Series titles before injuries and roster changes altered his path. After later stops with the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies, he has rebuilt value with San Diego and entered the opener with a 3.96 ERA.
The division rivals began a meaningful weekend series at Petco Park, with Los Angeles in front of the standings. The Dodgers enter Saturday at 52-30, while the Padres improved to 43-37 after Friday’s win, cutting the margin to eight games.
Before the opener, The California Post’s Jack Harris shared manager Dave Roberts’ response on X, formerly Twitter, after asking how much Buehler would want to beat his former club.
“Badly,” Roberts answered with a laugh. “He would love nothing more than to shove it up our you know what.”
Dave Roberts was asked how much he thinks Walker Buehler would like to beat the Dodgers tonight:
"Badly," Roberts answered with a laugh. "He would love nothing more than to shove it up our you know what."
— Jack Harris (@ByJackHarris) June 26, 2026
Roberts’ read proved accurate. Buehler held the Dodgers to one run across 5 1/3 innings while allowing three hits, helping the Padres earn a 7-1 victory to begin a seven-game, 10-day rivalry stretch.
The performance carried an obvious edge, but it also reflected the competitive standard Buehler established in Los Angeles. Roberts acknowledged the Dodgers understood his mindset and respected the intensity that helped make him a championship pitcher.
The series continues Saturday night with Yoshinobu Yamamoto scheduled to start for the Dodgers vs. Randy Vasquez. Another Padres win would trim the Dodgers’ division lead to seven games, while a response from the Dodgers would reestablish control.
For Buehler, Friday offered more than a strong outing. It gave him a chance to turn motivation into results against the organization that helped define his career during a charged NL West weekend in San Diego.
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