The Los Angeles Dodgers have been on quite a skid, and they're at risk of losing the National League West to the rival San Diego Padres.

Mookie Betts hits a tiebreaking solo homer in the eighth inning, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 5-4 on Sunday.

As recently as July 3, the Los Angeles Dodgers were sitting on a comfortable nine-game lead in the NL West. The defending World Series champs had won four straight games and 15 of their last 18 games despite having a full 13-man pitching staff on the injured list and getting something less than superstar play from Mookie Betts.

It's going to be a pressure-packed, riveting showdown, and it begins with future Hall of Famer Clayton Kershaw on the mound at Dodger Stadium on Friday night. More MLB: Mets Predicted to Lose 5-Time All-Star Pete Alonso in Free Agency Surprise

At the outset of play on July 4, the San Diego Padres were coming off a 2-4 trip through Cincinnati and Philadelphia and trailed the Los Angeles Dodgers by nine games in the National League West. On Friday night,

Six weeks ago, the Padres were reeling. They returned to San Diego having dropped both series on a road trip through Cincinnati and Philadelphia. On the ensuing off-day, the Dodgers beat the White Sox to move nine games clear in the National League West.

The Padres just keep winning and surging up the standings. The San Diego Padres beat the San Francisco Giants 11-1 Wednesday afternoon. With the win, the Padres moved a game ahead of the Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West.

The only team with an easier strength of schedule than the San Diego Padres is the one team that could steal the division from them.