The San Diego Padres will take on the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on Friday night. It’s time to continue our MLB odds series and make a Padres-Dodgers prediction and pick.
The Dodgers are currently the best team in baseball and sit atop the NL West with a record of 14-4. San Diego sits just four games back of the Dodgers after winning Thursday's series opener, 3-2. Each game between these two teams will be pivotal come October. Los Angeles will look to even the series at one game apiece.
Here’s how sportsbooks have set the Padres-Dodgers odds.
MLB Odds: Padres-Dodgers Odds
San Diego Padres +1.5 (-180)
Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (+160)
Over 7 Runs (+103)
Under 7 Runs (-123)
Why The Padres Could Cover The Spread
The Padres entered the 2021 season with extremely high expectations. It's not to say that they haven't been good by any means, but this team knows that they have the ability to play so much better than they have. The Padres are currently 11-10 on the year and 6-2 on the road, which is promising because of the fact that this game will take place in Los Angeles. San Diego pulled off the win in Thursday's opener thanks to quality start from Ryan Weathers. The pitching has been phenomenal and if the bats start to wake up, this team will be a problem on a daily basis.
San Diego will send out Yu Darvish for the second game of the series. The Padres ace will make his second start at Dodger Stadium this season. He allowed just one run and struck out nine in seven innings in the first start. Darvish is 1-1 with a 2.55 ERA and 28 strikeouts on the season. The right-hander's walk numbers are way down this season, which is extremely promising for such a lethal strikeout pitcher. Darvish has been lights out against the Dodgers during his career, posting a 1.29 ERA in two starts.
Why The Dodgers Could Cover The Spread
The Dodgers are right back to being the best team in Major League Baseball in 2021. Los Angeles has been so good in all aspects during the young season. The Dodgers currently rank fifth in runs scored, seventh in team hits, and second in team walks. They are scoring over five runs per game and getting daily contributions all the way down the lineup card. The Dodgers are currently 14-5 and 6-1 at home. The pitching, on the other hand, has been elite, allowing the second-fewest runs in the majors.
The Dodgers will send out left-hander Clayton Kershaw as they look to even the series. Kershaw hasn't slowed down a bit. The southpaw carries an 18-inning scoreless streak into this affair with San Diego's struggling offense. He has allowed just one run over his last three starts, which is good for a 0.47 ERA and three consecutive wins. Kershaw shut down the Padres in his last start against them, striking out eight and allowing just two hits over six innings.
Final Padres-Dodgers Prediction & Pick
I've put this pick on autopilot. The Dodgers are the far better team right now and will bounce back off after an uncharacteristic night at the plate. The pitching has remained solid and the hottest pitcher in the game will man the mound for the Dodgers. I'm a big Yu Darvish fan, but the concern is that he can be erratic at times and put guys on, which is a recipe for disaster against Los Angeles. Dodgers win a close one on Friday night.
FINAL PICK: Los Angeles Dodgers ML (-138)
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