San Diego Padres NLDS

Everything on the Padres’ path through the National League Division Series — how the round works, when Petco Park hosts, and every NLDS the Padres have actually played.

Current NLDS Picture

How the NLDS Works

Best-of-5, played in a 2-2-1 format. The higher-seeded team gets Games 1, 2 and 5 at home. The lower seed gets Games 3 and 4.

Padres in the NLDS

2005: Swept 3-0 by the Cardinals. The clinching Game 3 was played at Petco Park — the first-ever playoff game at Petco, and a loss.

2006: Lost 3-1 to the Cardinals again, with both home games at Petco going the Cardinals’ way — a 5-1 loss (starter Jake Peavy) and a 2-0 loss (starter David Wells).

2020: Swept 3-0 by the Dodgers. Because of the COVID-era bubble format that year, all three games were played at a neutral site in Texas — no games at Petco Park.

2022: Beat the 111-win Dodgers 3-1, winning both home games at Petco (Games 3 and 4, October 14 and 15) to reach the NLCS for the first time since 1998 — one of the bigger playoff upsets in recent memory.

2024: Lost 3-2 to the Dodgers. San Diego split its two home games at Petco, winning Game 3 (6-5) and losing Game 4 (8-0), before the Dodgers closed it out 2-0 in Game 5 at Dodger Stadium.