Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto (18) reacts in the second inning against the San Diego Padres during Game 5 of the NLDS. Jayne Kamin-Oncea-Imagn Images

LDS television rating benchmarks surpassed by Dodgers-Padres

By Victor Haltom | Last updated 10/13/24

Game 5 of the divisional series between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres drew the largest NLDS television viewing audience in a decade. Per Sports Media Watch, the game's viewership averaged 7.5 million and peaked at 8.5 million. The television audience was also the greatest of any LDS matchup since Game 5 of the 2017 ALDS clash between Cleveland and the New York Yankees.

Game 5 of Padres-Dodgers averaged 7.5 million viewers across Fox—the most-watched LDS game since 2017. pic.twitter.com/nbsAvEzGGe
— Front Office Sports (@FOS) October 13, 2024

The decisive game of the Dodgers-Padres series was not the only one that delivered high ratings. The series as a whole was widely watched. Out of the 18 divisional series games contested in MLB postseason play this year, two of the three top TV ratings were produced in the series contested by the "Interstate-5" rivals.

The upcoming NLCS, pitting the Dodgers against the New York Mets, promises to deliver further high television ratings as the teams represent the two largest media markets in the nation. Beyond the demographics, the involvement of the two top candidates for NL MVP — Shohei Ohtani and Francisco Lindor — is likely to garner considerable interest.

The next chapter of @Mets vs. @Dodgers #Postseason history begins tonight! pic.twitter.com/AsAhEU3qTZ
— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 13, 2024

The Dodgers and Mets have collided in the postseason on three prior occasions — in 1988, 2006 and 2015. The first of the three meetings was in the NLCS with the Dodgers prevailing in seven games en route to a World Series title. The latter two playoff encounters were in the NLDS, and the Mets were victorious in both.

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