Padres Sign Longtime Rival Pitcher Walker Buehler

Buehler joins Padres after years of dominating them as a Dodger

Mar. 30, 2026 at 5:05am

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The San Diego Padres have signed veteran pitcher Walker Buehler, who has long been a thorn in their side as a member of the rival Los Angeles Dodgers. Over 13 career starts against the Padres, Buehler has posted a dominant 7-1 record with a 1.67 ERA, holding San Diego hitters to a .187 batting average while striking out 83 batters in 81 innings.

Why it matters

Buehler's signing represents a major shift in the balance of power in the NL West, as the Padres have now brought on board one of their most formidable opponents from the Dodgers. This move could help San Diego close the gap on their longtime rivals and potentially challenge for the division title.

The details

After years of frustrating the Padres as a member of the Dodgers' rotation, Walker Buehler has now joined the San Diego club on a multi-year contract. Buehler's dominant numbers against the Padres include a 7-1 record, 1.67 ERA, 83 strikeouts, and a .187 opponent batting average over 13 career starts.

  • Buehler has faced the Padres 13 times in his career so far.

The players

Walker Buehler

A veteran right-handed pitcher who has spent the majority of his MLB career with the Los Angeles Dodgers, establishing himself as one of the top starters in the National League.

San Diego Padres

A Major League Baseball team based in San Diego, California, and a longtime rival of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West division.

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What they’re saying

“We're thrilled to add a pitcher of Walker's caliber to our rotation. His track record of success, especially against us, makes him a perfect fit to help take our team to the next level.”

— A.J. Preller, General Manager, San Diego Padres

What’s next

Buehler is expected to make his first start for the Padres against his former team, the Dodgers, in a highly anticipated matchup on April 15th.

The takeaway

The Padres' signing of Walker Buehler represents a major shift in the NL West, as they have brought on board one of their most dominant opponents in recent years. This move could help San Diego challenge their longtime rivals the Dodgers for division supremacy.