Even though they lost the past two games at Coors Field in Colorado, the San Diego Padres are above .500 after 10 games for only the third time in 11 seasons.
They view themselves as playoff contenders in 2020.
But only now do they face the ultimate test.
The Los Angeles Dodgers -- the Gold Standard of the National League West for the past six seasons -- visit San Diego and the Padres for three straight games starting Monday.
The Dodgers have not been kind to the Padres, even at Petco Park in San Diego.