MEXICO CITY -- Two teams with deep ties to Mexico -- and serious postseason ambitions -- are slated to meet in the Mexican Capital this weekend.
The Diamondbacks and Padres will play in the MLB World Tour: Mexico City Series 2026, presented by T-Mobile, a two-game series at the Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú, with games slated for Saturday and Sunday.
"There's a great baseball culture down there,” said D-backs manager Torey Lovullo. “I played winter ball in Mexico a couple times, and I just have nothing but great memories about going down there and playing in front of passionate fans. So I'm eager for us to do it.”
On top of the deep history of baseball in Mexico -- particularly with this pair of teams that have strong fanbases in the country -- this is a crucial early-season series.
Both the Padres and Diamondbacks are off to strong starts. It stands to reason they could be jockeying for playoff position all season. (For three years in a row, their playoff fates have been intertwined, with one reaching at the expense of the other, often decided with late-season series.)
So while the atmosphere will be a festive one and the cultural significance of the games carries deep meaning -- it’s baseball first.
“Baseball is supposed to be enjoyable,” said Padres manager Craig Stammen. “So it’s easy to marry those two things. We’ll enjoy the trip, enjoy playing in a different city. … Get a chance to go down to Mexico City, do a couple fun things, then play two games against the Diamondbacks and then head back home. Should be a fun trip. We’re looking forward to it. Fun atmosphere for us all to be playing in.”
Speaking of atmosphere, the games will be played at approximately 7,300 feet of elevation, which could lead to a slugfest. The Padres played the first regular-season games at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú in 2023, and won the opener, 16-11 -- a game that featured 11 home runs.
Those games were greeted with raucous crowds, as were each of the Padres’ previous three trips to Mexico. The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, will be playing their first regular-season games in the country.
"It's going to be a great experience," Diamondbacks closer Paul Sewald said. "It's part of Major Baseball trying to expand the game. I did the Little League World Series game in 2018, and it's totally different than your normal experience. But it's what makes this game so great. That place is going to be totally packed I'm sure. It'll be neutral fans that are cheering for just good baseball. And I think it's gonna be a fun experience.
What is the Mexico City Series?
This will mark the third regular-season series played in Mexico City and is the latest installment of MLB’s World Tour.
Major League Baseball’s Mexico City Series began in 2023 when the Padres and Giants squared off in a pair of regular-season games with both games being won by the Padres.
In 2024, the Astros swept the Rockies in a two-game series at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú.
When are the games, and how can I watch?
Sunday's game, scheduled for 4 p.m. ET (2 p.m. MT, 1 p.m. PT), can be seen on Padres.TV and Dbacks.TV.
Who will be the starting pitchers?
Germán Márquez and Michael King are slated to get the ball for San Diego. Neither has pitched in Mexico, though King pitched in Korea during the Padres' most recent international series. Both Márquez and King are coming off strong starts vs. the Angels, but will, naturally, be tested by the altitude in Mexico City.
For the D-backs, Zac Gallen will get the ball Saturday night with Ryne Nelson starting on Sunday. Gallen is off to a good start after re-signing with the Diamondbacks just after Spring Training started. Nelson, meanwhile, is coming off his worst start in the big leagues. The right-hander allowed eight runs and retired just one batter against the Blue Jays last Sunday at Chase Field.
Will the Automated Ball-Strike (ABS) Challenge System be in use?
No. Although ABS is used in every game at an MLB ballpark, Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú does not have the infrastructure to support the system.
What’s the history of Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú?
The ballpark is named for Padres minority owner Alfredo Harp Helú, who also owns the Diablos Rojos, the local team which plays its home games at the ballpark.
The stadium debuted in 2019 and features a capacity of roughly 20,000 seats. It has hosted regular-season games on two separate occasions, the first of which featured the Padres squaring off against the Giants in 2023.
How many MLB games have been played in Mexico?
It’s a deep and storied history. MLB has played more regular-season games in Mexico (15) than any other country, aside from the United States and Canada.
The inaugural Mexico series took place in August 1996, featuring the Padres and Mets, and was a rousing success. Mexican baseball icon Fernando Valenzuela, then pitching for the Padres, got the start in the series opener and was celebrated all night while pitching San Diego to an easy victory.
The Padres would return to Mexico three further times -- facing the Rockies in Monterrey in 1999, the Dodgers in Monterrey in 2018 and the Giants in Mexico City in 2023. (Their series against the D-backs will complete the NL West quartet).
The 2019 season saw a pair of series in Monterrey -- Reds-Cardinals and Angels-Astros. And in ‘24, the Astros and Rockies played a two-game set at the Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú. (Houston won both of those games by a combined score of 20-6.)
Have the Padres or D-backs played internationally before?
Both clubs have a history of playing internationally. The Padres played the inaugural international games vs. the Mets in Monterrey, Mexico, in 1996. They have since returned to Mexico three further times. Meanwhile, ahead of the 2024 season, the Padres and Dodgers played the first international games in South Korea, splitting a two-game series in Seoul.
The Diamondbacks, meanwhile, played the first and only games in Australia in 2014, a two-game series against the Dodgers at the Sydney Cricket Ground. And while Arizona has never played a regular-season game in Mexico, the organization has played 11 exhibition games there since its inception in 1998, 10 of which they played in Hermosillo and one in Monterrey.
What community events are planned in conjunction with the trip?
Youth Baseball visit: On Friday, the Padres will visit a youth baseball league in the area and hold a clinic for over 250 youth baseball players.
Mural photo opportunity: Mexican artist Raúl Urías has created a mural that brings together baseball and Mexican culture. The mural will be located at the Fuente de la Diana Cazadora on Paseo de la Reforma throughout the weekend for fans to visit and take photographs.
Immersive experience: MLB is bringing a unique experience for fans in Mexico City during the weekend. Located at the Monumento a la Revolución, fans will have the opportunity to experience baseball in a new and exciting way. The Immersive Experience will be available from 12–8 p.m. on Friday and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Hot Dog Food Truck: On Friday through Sunday, fans will have the chance to taste a custom version of the classic ballpark hot dog created by celebrated Mexican chef Enrique Olvera. On Friday, a food truck will be at the Ángel de la Independencia giving away 1,000 hot dogs from 2:30-4 p.m. In addition, fans will be able to purchase the hot dog at Olvera’s restaurant Molino El Pujol throughout the weekend.
PLAY BALL Event: MLB will host 100 locals from the John Langdon Down Foundation, for an adaptive and inclusive PLAY BALL event. The clinic will take place from 10:30 a.m. to 12 p.m. on Saturday at the youth diamond at Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú in Mexico City and will feature special guests, including players from both the D-backs and the Padres as well as other MLB alumni.
Is there anything else fans should know?
- Prior to Game 1, WWE Hall of Famer Rey Mysterio will throw out the ceremonial first pitch, with Mexican singer, songwriter and actress Paty Cantú set to sing the Mexico National Anthem. Club America soccer star and Mexican national team member Israel Reyes will throw out the ceremonial first pitch ahead of Sunday's game with Melissa Robles of the pop group Matisse to perform the Mexico National Anthem. The U.S. National Anthem will be performed prior to both games by singer Luis Ángel.
- The Diamondbacks will not take starting pitchers Eduardo Rodriguez and Michael Soroka to Mexico City and instead will have the two meet them in Milwaukee for their series with the Brewers starting Tuesday night. Lovullo said that the decision was made as a way to aid in the recovery of both pitchers from recent starts as it can be taxing on the body to try and do so at high altitude. Merrill Kelly, who is not scheduled to pitch in the series, will accompany the team in case he is needed in an emergency situation Sunday.
- Xander Bogaerts, an Aruba native, speaks four languages. So it stands to reason that he’d thrive in the international series. In 2023, Bogaerts became the first player to homer in four different countries, having done so in the United States, Canada, England and Mexico City. Manny Machado has since joined him, with a homer in Seoul in ‘24, along with a homer in Mexico City in ‘23.
- Both teams will be permitted to add a 27th player for the series. That player must come from the 40-man roster.