Last updated: September 29, 2026
QUICK ANSWER
There is no Padres vs Phillies game on the schedule right now. Both teams are in the 2026 playoffs, but in separate Wild Card Series. They could only meet in the NL Championship Series, which starts Oct. 11. The Phillies won all six regular-season games between them this year.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Right now: no Padres vs Phillies game is scheduled
- Playoff path: they can only meet in the NLCS, which starts Oct. 11
- 2026 season series: the Phillies won all six games
- History: the 2022 NLCS is their only playoff series, and Philadelphia won it 4–1
Is There a Padres vs Phillies Game Coming Up?
Not yet. Both teams made the 2026 playoffs, but they are in different Wild Card Series. Game 1 for each team is on Sept. 29. Here is where each club stands.
| Padres | Phillies | |
|---|---|---|
| Seed | No. 4 | No. 6 |
| Record | 91–71 | 88–74 |
| Opponent | Cubs, at Petco Park | Braves, at Truist Park |
| Game 1 (Sept. 29) | 7 p.m. PT / 10 p.m. ET | 2 p.m. ET / 11 a.m. PT |
| Watch on | Peacock, NBCSN | NBC, Peacock |
The Wild Card Series is best-of-three. That means either team could be done as soon as Wednesday, Sept. 30, or as late as Thursday, Oct. 1.
How the Padres and Phillies Could Meet in the NLCS
The bracket is set, so the two teams cannot meet in the next round. This is the only path:
- Wild Card Series (Sept. 29–Oct. 1). The Padres play the Cubs. The Phillies play the Braves.
- Division Series (Oct. 3–10). The Padres would face top-seeded Milwaukee. The Phillies would face second-seeded Los Angeles.
- NL Championship Series (starts Oct. 11). If both teams keep winning, they meet for the pennant.
That is a tall order. Milwaukee won 103 games this season, and the Dodgers won 100.
How to Watch the Padres and Phillies in the Playoffs
Here is where to find each team over the next week.
- Phillies vs Braves: NBC and Peacock. Game 1 starts at 2 p.m. ET.
- Padres vs Cubs: Peacock and NBCSN. Game 1 starts at 10 p.m. ET.
- Division Series: Fox, FS1, and Fox Deportes. Game 1 is on Saturday, Oct. 3.
- Double-check the times. Start times for later games can change depending on which other series are still going.
What Happened in 2026: The Phillies Swept the Padres
The teams played two three-game series this year. Philadelphia won all six.
| Date | Result | What happened |
|---|---|---|
| May 25 | Phillies 3, Padres 0 | Kyle Schwarber hit his 21st home run, the most in the majors at that point. |
| May 26 | Phillies 4, Padres 3 | Bryce Harper, J.T. Realmuto, and Trea Turner all homered. |
| May 27 | Phillies 3, Padres 0 | Cristopher Sánchez threw seven scoreless innings and set a Phillies record with a 44 2/3-inning scoreless streak. |
| June 2 | Phillies 3, Padres 2 | Harper hit his 377th career homer, and Jhoan Duran got the save. |
| June 3 | Phillies 3, Padres 2 | Another one-run finish. |
| June 4 | Phillies 6, Padres 4 | Zack Wheeler gave up two hits in seven innings. The Phillies passed San Diego in the wild-card race. |
The Phillies outscored the Padres 22–11 across the six games. Every one was decided by three runs or fewer.
Keep the timing in mind. Those games were played in late May and early June. The Padres went on to finish with the better record, 91–71 to 88–74.
Padres vs Phillies Head-to-Head Record
The Phillies have had the upper hand in recent meetings. Here is how the last few matchups ended.
| Matchup | Winner | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 regular season | Phillies | 4–3 |
| 2022 NLCS | Phillies | 4–1 |
| 2026 regular season | Phillies | 6–0 |
The 2022 NLCS is the only postseason series the two clubs have played. The Phillies have now won six straight against San Diego.
This is a recent snapshot, not a full all-time record.
The 2022 NLCS: Their Only Playoff Series
In October 2022, two wild-card teams met in a league championship series for the first time in MLB history. Philadelphia was the sixth seed. San Diego was the fifth. The Phillies won in five games.
Game 1: Wheeler sets the tone. Zack Wheeler struck out eight in a 2–0 Phillies win at Petco Park. Harper and Schwarber each homered.
Game 2: Padres bounce back. San Diego trailed 4–0 early, then won 8–5. It was the Padres’ first NLCS win since 1998.
A brother-versus-brother moment. Aaron Nola of the Phillies faced his brother Austin, who played for the Padres. They were the first brothers to meet as pitcher and batter in a postseason game.
Game 4: Phillies fight back. The Padres led 4–0 after one inning. Philadelphia answered with a 10–6 win, and Rhys Hoskins hit two home runs.
Game 5: Harper’s swing. The Padres led 3–2 in the eighth inning. Harper hit a two-run homer, the Phillies won 4–3, and he was named NLCS MVP.
What to Watch If They Meet Again
First, both teams have to survive. San Diego went 1–5 against the Cubs this year. Philadelphia went 4–9 against the Braves. Neither series is easy.
| Padres | Phillies | |
|---|---|---|
| Seed and record | No. 4, 91–71 | No. 6, 88–74 |
| Late-season form | Surged in September to grab the top wild-card spot | Lost six straight, then won the season finale to clinch |
| Key bat | Fernando Tatis Jr. | Kyle Schwarber (45 home runs) |
| Strength | Bullpen | Starting pitching |
Three things to watch
- The Padres’ bullpen. Analysts point to it as San Diego’s biggest strength going into October.
- Philadelphia’s pitching plan. The Phillies had to use Wheeler in the season finale, so their rotation is stretched right away.
- Schwarber at the plate. He led the Phillies in home runs and went deep at Petco Park in May.
Padres vs Phillies FAQ
Are the Padres and Phillies playing each other?
No. Both teams are in the 2026 playoffs, but they are in separate Wild Card Series. The Padres play the Cubs, and the Phillies play the Braves. They cannot meet before the NL Championship Series.
When could Padres vs Phillies happen in the playoffs?
The earliest is the NL Championship Series, which starts Oct. 11. Both teams would need to win their Wild Card Series and their Division Series first. The Padres would go through Milwaukee, and the Phillies would go through Los Angeles.
Who won the 2026 season series?
The Phillies did. They swept all six games, three at Petco Park in May and three at Citizens Bank Park in early June. Philadelphia outscored San Diego 22–11.
Who won the 2022 NLCS?
The Phillies won, four games to one. Bryce Harper was the series MVP after hitting the pennant-winning two-run homer in Game 5. That win sent Philadelphia to the World Series.
Where can I watch the Padres and Phillies playoff games?
The Phillies-Braves series airs on NBC and Peacock. The Padres-Cubs series airs on Peacock and NBCSN. The Division Series moves to Fox, FS1, and Fox Deportes.
The Bottom Line
There is no Padres vs Phillies game on the calendar right now. Both teams first have to get through the Wild Card Series.
If they do, the earliest meeting is the NLCS, starting Oct. 11. The Phillies would arrive with a 6–0 edge this season. The Padres would be looking to even the score from 2022.
The 2022 series is still their only playoff meeting, and its full history is worth a look.
Until then, follow each series on NBC, Peacock, or NBCSN, and check back here as the bracket takes shape.
Hi, I’m James Patterson, a storyteller who loves creating thrilling mysteries, unforgettable characters, and page-turning adventures. Through TheBiblimeaning, I share insights about authors, books, literary meanings, biographies, and the stories behind famous writers. My goal is to help readers discover the deeper world of literature while enjoying engaging and informative content.
