The Dodgers have maintained a tenuous narrow lead over the Padres in the NL West since Aug. 24, but they haven't been able to stretch it further than two since Aug. 9. They've been tied four times and the Dodgers fell behind twice, but LA has squandered multiple opportunities to put more distance between themselves and their rivals.
The Padres weren't supposed to be much of a concern. The Dodgers had a nine-game lead over them going into Fourth of July weekend — all of which was slowly whittled away at during the rest of LA's horrendous July.