Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts Gets Real About Division Race With The San Diego Padres

For the Los Angeles Dodgers, cruising to an NL West title has become an annual expectation. This season, however, the San Diego Padres have turned the division into a legitimate battle, leaving the two rivals neck-and-neck as the season enters its final stretch. While some fans may feel uneasy about the lack of separation, Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts sees this intense competition as a crucial advantage for the team’s ultimate goal: a World Series championship.

Los Angeles Dodgers Mookie Betts Expects A Different Kind of September

Appearing on teammate Will Smith’s podcast, On Base, Betts offered a refreshingly optimistic take on the pressure-packed final 30 games of the season. He explained that the tight race with the Padres is exactly what the Dodgers need to stay sharp heading into October.

“I kind of appreciate this because it forces us to play the whole season,” Betts said. “I remember my first couple of years we won the division with weeks left in the season, and we ended up getting put out a couple of times early. Now with [the Padres] tied with us, it’s gonna help us in the long run.”

Betts’ perspective is grounded in recent history. The Dodgers have been a regular-season juggernaut, winning 100 or more games in 2022 and 2023, only to face shocking early exits in the postseason. In 2022, it was the Padres who eliminated a 111-win Dodgers team in the NLDS. In 2023, the Arizona Diamondbacks swept a 100-win Dodgers squad out of the playoffs. These experiences have taught the team that regular-season dominance doesn’t guarantee postseason success. The theory is that clinching the division early may have allowed a sense of complacency to creep in, leaving the team unprepared for the high-stakes intensity of playoff baseball.

The 2025 Landscape

This year’s race is particularly compelling given the talent on both sides. The Dodgers, under manager Dave Roberts, continue to boast a formidable lineup featuring Betts, Shohei Ohtani, and Freddie Freeman. The pitching staff, led by aces Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Tyler Glasnow, is built for a deep October run.

However, the San Diego Padres have matched them step for step. Managed by Mike Shildt, the Padres’ roster is loaded with stars like Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Xander Bogaerts. Their pitching has been a force, anchored by veterans Yu Darvish and Joe Musgrove, making them a legitimate threat to dethrone the Dodgers. The close-fought games this season have highlighted just how evenly matched these two teams are.

Forging a Postseason Edge

Betts believes that having to fight for every win down the stretch will better prepare the Dodgers for the playoff atmosphere. When every game in September feels like a must-win situation, the team is forced to maintain a level of focus and intensity that can’t be replicated once a playoff spot is already secured. This sustained pressure keeps players sharp, tests the team’s resilience, and forces the coaching staff to manage every game with postseason-level strategy.

This mindset is crucial. Instead of coasting into the playoffs, the Dodgers are being battle-tested daily. They are learning how to win tight games, execute under pressure, and respond to adversity—all essential qualities for a successful postseason run. The high stakes of the division race are creating a playoff environment before the calendar even turns to October.

For Betts himself, the pressure seems to be working. After a brief hitless streak to begin August, he has responded with renewed focus, batting .323 over his last 16 games and showing the leadership expected of a superstar.

The Road Ahead

With about five weeks remaining, the NL West is up for grabs. The Dodgers and Padres will continue to clash, and every game will have significant implications for the division crown and playoff seeding. While the uncertainty can be stressful for fans, Mookie Betts provides a valuable perspective. This is not a moment for panic, but an opportunity for growth.

If his theory holds true, this intense rivalry with the Padres won’t just decide the NL West champion; it will forge a Dodgers team that is more focused, resilient, and prepared than ever to chase a World Series title. The path to a championship is never easy, and this year, the Dodgers are embracing the challenge as a necessary step toward their ultimate goal.