Walker Buehler starts for Padres in Dodgers rivalry opener
Walker Buehler is set to start for the San Diego Padres against his former team, the Los Angeles Dodgers, on Friday night at Petco Park. The right-hander brings a hot June stretch into the Dodgers Padres rivalry opener—a new perspective for a pitcher who spent his first seven MLB seasons in Los Angeles.
Buehler will finally revisit one of baseball's fiercest matchups from the other dugout. After the Padres took a flier on him this past offseason, his recent run has become a major development for a rotation dealing with injuries and uncertainty.
Key Takeaways
- Walker Buehler starts Friday for the Padres against the Dodgers at Petco Park in the NL West rivalry series opener.
- Buehler has allowed one run in each of his last four June starts (1.71 ERA), though Friday pits him against MLB's top offense.
- Los Angeles leads San Diego by nine games in the NL West entering the three-game set; the Dodgers are 52-29.
- Dodgers starter Roki Sasaki opposes Buehler on Apple TV at 6:45 p.m. PT.
- Buehler previously faced the Dodgers once with Boston last year; this is his first start against them as a Padre.
Why does Walker Buehler starting change the Dodgers Padres rivalry story?
For seven seasons, Buehler helped define Los Angeles pitching in this heated Southern California matchup. On Friday, he weighs in from the Padres side for the first time as a San Diego starter.
MLB.com noted the rivalry has historically brought out his best, including six innings as part of the Dodgers' combined no-hitter in San Diego on May 4, 2018—his third career start. That history makes this matchup as personal as it is strategic.
How has Buehler been pitching heading into Friday?
After an uneven beginning to 2026, Buehler has surged in June. He has allowed just one run in each of his last four starts, posting a 1.71 ERA with 22 strikeouts over 21 innings, per MLB.com. The San Diego Union-Tribune reports the Padres went 3-1 in those outings.
Still, his overall line sits at 4-3 with a 3.96 ERA across 15 starts, with only three quality starts this season. Friday may be his stiffest test yet—the Dodgers rank first in the majors in OPS (.783), according to the Union-Tribune.
What is at stake in the Padres-Dodgers series opener?
The gap in the NL West has widened since these teams last met in May. True Blue LA reports that what was a one-and-a-half-game lead for Los Angeles has grown to nine games entering this weekend.
San Diego (42-37) enters after sweeping the Braves and winning six of its last 10 games, but trails St. Louis by a half-game for the NL's third wild-card spot, per the Union-Tribune. A statement win against the first-place Dodgers could shift the mood of a tight playoff race.
Who is starting for the Dodgers, and how can fans watch?
Los Angeles counters with right-hander Roki Sasaki (3-4, 4.76 ERA), making his first start against San Diego since choosing the Dodgers over the Padres during the 2025 international signing period, the Union-Tribune reports. Sasaki has allowed 10 runs over his last 10 innings.
Friday's game at Petco Park begins at 6:45 p.m. PT and airs exclusively on Apple TV, with Wayne Randazzo and Dontrelle Willis on the call, per True Blue LA. Radio options include AM 570 (English) and KTNQ 1020 AM (Spanish).
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Full matchup details and Buehler's recent June form are documented by MLB.com.