Pregame analysis and predictions of the Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres MLB game to be played on August 22, 2025 on ESPN.

Bob Melvin did not hold back on how frustrating Thursday night was for the Giants in their loss to the Padres.

A disastrous fifth inning doomed the Giants in San Francisco's 8-4 loss to the San Diego Padres on Thursday afternoon at Petco Park.

A young fan is tackled by security after running onto the field during the eighth inning of a game between the San Francisco Giants and the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Aug. 19, 2025, in San Diego, Calif.

Through three innings, the Giants owned a 2-0 lead and positioned themselves to at least salvage a series split. Justin Verlander retired the first nine batters he faced, and the offense scored a pair of runs in the third thanks to rare shoddy defense from Platinum Glover Fernando Tatis Jr.

A good sign for the Padres beyond their 8-4 victory Thursday was how manager Mike Shildt used his bullpen with his team up four runs against a subpar Giants offense. Shildt deployed only high-leverage arms over the final four innings. This was a public show of good late-season health among four key pitchers.

Gavin Sheets hit two of San Diego's four home runs and drove in four runs, and Fernando Tatis Jr. robbed Giant's Rafael Devers of a homer.

BOTTOM LINE: The San Diego Padres face the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday. San Diego has a 70-56 record overall and a 39-21 record at home. Padres hitters are batting a collective .251, which ranks fourth in the NL.

The San Diego Padres play against the San Francisco Giants in an MLB game tonight. Fans can watch this game for free online.

The Padres capitalized on some sloppy Giants defense in a win over San Francisco, setting up another 1st place battle with the Dodgers.