On October 10, 2009, Padilla was the starting and winning pitcher in the clinching Game 3 of the National League Division Series against the St. Louis Cardinals, pitching seven innings of shut-out ball. He also pitched well in Game 2 of the NLCS against the Philadelphia Phillies, working 7.1 innings and only allowing one run in a game the Dodgers eventually won. However, he picked up the loss, giving up 6 earned runs in 3 innings of work, in the deciding Game 5, allowing the Philadelphia Phillies to advance to the World Series for the second straight year.