Series Preview #9: Padres @ Diamondbacks
“We have some amazing fans in Mexico, and specifically Mexico City,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said last week.
MEXICO CITY, MEXICO - APRIL 24: A general view of Estadio Alfredo Harp Helu during the 2026 Mexico City Series preview photos on Friday, April 24, 2026 in Mexico City, Mexico. (Photo by Mary DeCicco/MLB Photos via Getty Images) | MLB Photos via Getty Images No ABS. For those of you who, just like me, wasn’t really having its vision towards the next series, it might have come as a surprise to see the Diamondbacks play a two-game weekend series against a division rival.
The reason: the Diamondbacks move to Mexico to face the San Diego Padres in an International Series. It is MLB’s first international series of the season and, by courtesy of a couple of articles on MLB. com, here are some facts: It is the 3rd time that MLB plays a series at the Estadio Alfredo Harp Helú in Mexico City.
The first time MLB played at this stadium was in 2023, when the Padres faced the Giants. In 2024 MLB returned with a game between the Astros and Rockies. The stadium has around 20,000 seats and is named after a minority owner of the Padres.
The stadium is at an elevation of 7,300 feet above sea level, so we could expect lots of homeruns: Padres and Giants launched 11 in their inaugural match of the series in 2023. The Padres have played MLB games 4 times in Mexico, one against each NL West opponent so far. The Diamondbacks have never played a regular season game in Mexico, though have been in Mexico 11 times for exhibition games (Hermosillo and Monterey).
Continue to the original source for the full article.