New Padres Reliever Focused on Beating Division Rival Dodgers

Over the last few seasons, the two biggest goals for the San Diego Padres have been to win the World Series and beat the rival Los Angeles Dodgers. San Diego accomplished the second goal in the postseason in 2022, but now L.A. has a new target on their back.

With the spending spree that the Dodgers have been on this offseason, the Padres seem to have fallen even further back in the division race. Games aren't won on paper, but the Dodgers are loaded.

New reliever Yuki Matsui made some comments about the Dodgers that should fire up the San Diego fanbase. He is focused on spoiling the Dodgers' parade, especially over in his home country of Japan.

With the Dodgers signing both Shohei Ohtani and Yoshinobu Yamamoto, the majority of Japan is now rooting for them. But Matusi wants to change the narrative.

“I’ll be honest with you: In Japan it seems like it’s Dodgers — all Dodgers now,” Matsui said. “But we’re in the same division and obviously they’ve been winning the division for an extended period of time now, so we really need to step it up and stand up and beat those guys"

Per Yuki Matsui via The San Diego Union-Tribune

It's not going to be easy, but the Padres still have a lot of talent on the roster. They've taken down a juggernaut Dodgers team before, and maybe they can do it again.

“Hopefully I can be a part of this team to help do that.”

Per Yuki Matsui via The San Diego Union-Tribune

Matsui will be key for this Padres team in the late innings, potentially helping to close games out. San Diego may use a closer-by-committee approach this season, and Matsui is expected to factor in.