The Dodgers will welcome the San Diego Padres to Los Angeles for a rivalry matchup over the weekend. Can the Padres shock the Dodgers and move up in the NL Wild Card standings?
Let’s see what the MLB odds tell us at the top sportsbooks!
Padres vs. Dodgers: What You Should Know
The Los Angeles Dodgers are easily the best team in baseball, but this week won’t be easy for the 88-win Dodgers.
Los Angeles will take on the New York Mets earlier in the week and then face the San Diego Padres over the weekend. Yes, I know, the Padres haven’t played well throughout the second half, despite adding a load of talent. But that team is never going to be an easy out.
San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Friday, September 2, 2022 – 10:10 PM EDT at Dodger Stadium
Friday’s Probable Pitchers
In Friday’s game, it’s likely going to be Julio Urias of the Dodgers facing off against Yu Darvish of the Padres.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Urias has been handling business with the Dodgers lately. His strikeouts are high and his walks are low.
But the more important thing is that he’s kept line drives down and has rarely given up extra-base hits in the last month on the mound.
San Diego Padres
Darvish has pitched extremely well for the Padres. He’s also earned a high strikeout rate with a low walk rate. However, he’s allowing a .172 ISO to lefties and righties in the last 30 days, which is something to keep an eye out for.
The Dodgers could end up hitting a couple extra-base hits that would eventually turn into game-winning runs.
San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Saturday, September 3, 2022 – 09:10 PM EDT at Dodger Stadium
Saturday’s Probables
Los Angeles Dodgers
On Saturday, Tony Gonsolin will take the hill for the Dodgers. The righty is just 16-1 on the season and has an xFIP below 4 in the last 30 days.
His strikeout rate is starting to get higher but he’s still allowed plenty of line drives. Gonsolin has escaped damage a lot this year, but he’s looking much better recently.
San Diego Padres
Gonsolin will end up facing Sean Manaea, who has basically been the weakest link for the Padres this season in their rotation.
Manaea’s xFIP is near 5 in the last 30 days and while he’s been able to limit line drives, he hasn’t been able to limit that high BABIP he’s allowed in that time frame. He’s giving up a ton of extra-base hits and has struggled more against righites than lefties, as a left-handed pitcher.
San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
Sunday, September 4, 2022 – 07:08 PM EDT at Dodger Stadium
Sunday’s Probables
Los Angeles Dodgers
Lastly, on Sunday, the Dodgers will send out another left-handed pitcher in Andrew Heaney. Heaney has a 3.14 xFIP in the last 30 days and has struck out over 35% of batters in that time frame.
He’s also kept walks down and has limited line drives to just 19.1%. Heaney’s having a resurgence year.
San Diego Padres
Going up against Heaney, it’ll be Mike Clevinger for the Padres. Analytically, Clevinger has been absolutely lost, holding a 6.82 xFIP in the last 30 days.
It’s hard to trust a guy giving up the same amount of line drives compared to ground balls. Clevinger has been worse against lefties but is giving up extra-base hits to both sides of the plate. Things haven’t gone well for him recently.
The Offenses
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers will take on two righties and one lefty in this series. Against righties, the Dodgers have destroyed, hitting a .232 ISO and wOBA of .344 in the last 30 days. They’re able to stack lefties like Joey Gallo and Cody Bellinger, to go along with everyday players like Freddie Freeman and Max Muncy.
When they face a lefty, the Dodgers will have less power but they’ll still have a higher enough wOBA to make some noise. After all, the Dodgers are the most offensive in the league and are able to platoon different guys to get the best matchups possible in each situation.
San Diego Padres
Offensively, against righties, the Padres are having a ton of success, hitting a .206 ISO with a wOBA of .354 in the last 30 days.
Against lefties, the Padres are hitting a .116 ISO with a wOBA of .301. The Dodgers are expected to send out two lefties in this series.
Padres vs. Dodgers: Series Prediction
You’d have to imagine the Dodgers ending up winning this series with two lefties on the mound through three games.
Therefore, for my MLB picks, I’m predicting that the Dodgers win the series with two wins in three games.
