Overview

• The Padres clinched first place when their 11-1 rout of the Giants coincided with the Dodgers’ 6-5 loss to the Angels, flipping the division on Aug. 14.
• San Diego’s late-July trades yielded eight major-league contributors—including Mason Miller and Ramón Laureano—while depleting its top farm prospects.
• Los Angeles has lost seven of 12 games since the deadline, compiling a 4.17 team ERA and placing several key pitchers on the injured list.
• Analysts such as Tom Verducci have pointed to systemic weaknesses in the Dodgers’ offense, defense and pitching as their slide continues.
• The two clubs begin a six-game head-to-head stretch over 10 days starting Friday, a run widely seen as decisive for the NL West race.