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The Los Angeles Dodgers travel to Petco Park to take on the San Diego Padres for a key NL West clash. It’s time to continue our MLB odds series and make a Dodgers-Padres prediction and pick.
San Diego currently stands at 68-58 and is 41-26 at home. If you put $100 on every single Padres game so far this season, you’d be down $1,240 on the moneyline.
Los Angeles currently stands at 78-47 and is 36-26 on the road. If you put $100 on every single Dodgers game so far this season, you’d be down $555 on the moneyline.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the Dodgers-Padres odds.
MLB Odds: Dodgers-Padres Odds
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Los Angeles Dodgers ML (-129)
San Diego Padres ML (+119)
Over 8.5 Runs (-125)
Under 8.5 Runs (+105)
Why The Dodgers Could Win This Game
These two teams are trending in opposite directions, and Dodgers backers and fans are loving it. Los Angeles has won 10 of its last 11, while San Diego has lost nine of its last 11.
The Padres' bats have been lukewarm for weeks now, and Dodgers starter Julio Urias will try to take advantage of that. Urias makes his return off the IL and will look to continue his excellent year.
The lefty was nearly untouchable until he was forced to the 10-day IL, holding a 1.30 ERA in his last five starts. Urias went at least five innings in each of his last five starts and gave up multiple runs in only one of them.
San Diego has really struggled against southpaws as late. Against the last three lefty starters, the Padres managed only four earned runs in 20 innings, including getting no-hit by rookie Tyler Gilbert.
Julio Urias is a better quality pitcher than any of the last three lefties faced, so San Diego could be in for another quiet offensive night.
At the dish, the Dodgers are tasked with scoring off a talented Padres bullpen. Thankfully for Los Angeles, the Padres' bullpen is both depleted and has looked lackluster of late.
The San Diego bullpen tossed 14.0 innings over the last three games, and that's if we don't include Ryan Weathers' two innings of work. They allowed seven earned over that span.
The Dodgers are one of the most patient teams in the league, and they should create traffic and high stress innings for a bullpen that is showing signs of wear and tear. Expect L.A. to pepper runs throughout the entire game as the Padres put in weary arms.
Why The Padres Could Win This Game
The Padres will turn to Pierce Johnson as an opener in hope of slowing down the L.A. juggernaut. It will be yet another bullpen game for the Friars, who used Craig Stammen as an opener in the last matchup.
There are several signs of hope in a bleak time for this Padres pitching staff. For one, all of the Padres' best bullpen arms have had at least one day of full rest. Mark Melancon, Daniel Hudson, Tim Hill, and Austin Adams should all be relatively fresh for this one.
Secondly, Pierce Johnson has been nails in August, allowing only one earned run in 8 2/3 innings. At the very least, it's unlikely the Dodgers jump out to an immediate lead. Behind Johnson, the Padres have a bullpen that holds the lowest ERA in the major leagues, as well as the third-lowest WHIP.
Lastly, this Dodgers offense hasn't exactly been tearing the cover off the ball. Los Angeles hasn't scored more than four runs in six out of seven games, and that includes a series against a terrible Pittsburgh pitching staff. This Padres staff has a shot to keep a Dodgers outburst at bay.
At the plate, the Padres will face a pitcher whom they have decent numbers against. Julio Urias has pitched one game against the Padres this year, and he allowed six earned runs in just four innings of work.
Urias also hasn't pitched in a few days, meaning he might show a little rust. Odds are it takes a few innings for him to get acclimated, and the Padres could take advantage of a pitcher who walked five guys in his last 10 innings on the mound heading into this game.
Final Dodgers-Padres Prediction & Pick
The Padres have roughed up Julio Urias in the past, but they made lefty starters look like aces in their last three games. The San Diego offense is struggling, and Urias is not the guy you want to see on the mound in this situation. L.A. should scratch across enough runs off the Padres' bullpen to make this a comfortable win.
FINAL DODGERS-PADRES PREDICTION: LOS ANGELES DODGERS ML (-129)
