The San Diego Padres head north on Wednesday, September 23 for a pivotal late-season NL West matchup against the Los Angeles Dodgers at UNIQLO Field at Dodger Stadium, with first pitch scheduled for 10:10 PM ET. Robbie Ray gets the ball for San Diego against Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto. With September in full swing and every game carrying real weight in the standings, this rivalry clash between two of the National League's most talented rosters is exactly the kind of game that can define a season's final chapter.

Pitching Matchup: Robbie Ray vs. Yoshinobu Yamamoto

Robbie Ray draws one of the tougher assignments any Padres starter can get — climbing the mound at Dodger Stadium against Yoshinobu Yamamoto. The Japanese right-hander has been one of the most electric pitchers in baseball since arriving stateside, and facing him late in the regular season, when every run is precious, raises the stakes even further for San Diego's offense. Ray will need to keep the Dodgers' loaded lineup off the bases and give the Padres' bats a chance to do some damage.

Dodgers Lineup: A Threat From Top to Bottom

Let's be direct: Los Angeles is rolling out one of the most dangerous lineups in baseball. Mookie Betts leads off from shortstop, followed immediately by Shohei Ohtani in the two-hole as the designated hitter. That is a one-two punch that can wreck a pitcher's night before the third batter ever steps in. Freddie Freeman hits cleanup at first base, Will Smith bats third at catcher, and Teoscar Hernández and Kyle Tucker provide power from the five and six spots. Tommy Edman rounds out the order at second base. Ray will not get a single easy inning against this group.

Padres Lineup: Tatis and Machado Must Deliver

San Diego counters with Fernando Tatis Jr. leading off in right field, with Dustin Harris hitting second in left. Manny Machado slots in at third in the three-hole, and Ty France bats cleanup at first base. Jackson Merrill takes center field and hits fifth, while Xander Bogaerts bats sixth at shortstop. Jake Cronenworth handles second base and hits seventh. Samad Taylor gets the DH spot at eighth, and Ethan Salas catches and hits ninth. The Padres need Tatis and Machado to set the tone early — if those two are clicking, San Diego has a fighting chance against Yamamoto.

Three Keys to Watch

• Robbie Ray's command early: Against a lineup this deep, falling behind in counts is a quick path to a long night. Ray has to establish himself in the first two innings or the Dodgers will make him pay.
• Neutralizing Ohtani: With Betts on base ahead of him, Shohei Ohtani batting second gives Los Angeles an immediate threat to score. San Diego's pitching staff and defensive alignment against him will be critical.
• Ethan Salas at the plate: Hitting ninth, the young catcher has an opportunity to turn the lineup over and put Tatis Jr. up with runners on base. How Salas handles Yamamoto could quietly shape this game.

Prediction

This is a road game against a star-studded Dodgers club with one of the best young starters in the game on the hill. The Padres are capable of stealing one in Los Angeles — Tatis, Machado, and Merrill give them enough pop to score — but Yamamoto is a difficult puzzle to solve on short notice in September. Expect a competitive, low-scoring affair. Padres fall 3-1 in a game that stays close until the Dodgers' lineup depth finally breaks through late.