To kick off a four-game divisional set, the Los Angeles Dodgers will play host to the San Diego Padres in what figures to be an interesting game in terms of the MLB standings. When these franchises got together in April, the Dodgers took two of three.
The Padres (46-31) just broke a three-game losing skid with a 4-0 win at Arizona. San Diego currently idles in second place in the National League West, only a 1.5 games behind Los Angeles. The Friars have more wins on the road than any NL crew but the Dodgers.
Los Angeles (46-28) is 20-12 at Chavez Ravine. They return to the West Coast after a nine-game road swing that consisted of a series with Cincinnati, Atlanta, and Colorado. With this series, they could help their own cause in staving off the San Diego Padres.
The Dodgers rank within the top third of the NL as it pertains to batting. They have a .252 average at the dish, which is only bested by only St. Louis, the New York Mets, and the Rockies.
Shortstop Trea Turner and first baseman Freddie Freeman are both hitting .308 or better. Second baseman Gavin Lux has helped with a .296 average of his own.
Right fielder Mookie Betts is one of four Los Angeles players to have double-digit dingers. He has 17 long balls. Even after an emotional trip back to his old stomping grounds, first baseman Freddie Freeman has a team-high .391 on-base percentage.
Padres vs. Dodgers Odds
MLB odds like the host team to come out on top in this one. Los Angeles is -1.5 on the run line at +160, while the Padres are -194 to cover the spread.
On the moneyline, the Braves are -126 and San Diego a +108 underdog. The total has been set at 7.5 runs, with the over being -115 and the under -104 at the time of this writing.
Lucky for the Padres, they avoided what would have been the more crippling MLB injuries this season. Already without one of their stars in Fernando Tatis Jr., third baseman Manny Machado recently fought off an ankle ailment.
He leads San Diego in every major batting statistic – including hitting (.328), homers (12), RBIs (46), and on-base percentage (.400).
First baseman Eric Hosmer and left fielder Jurickson Profar have done their part in helping make sure he’s not the Padres’ only performer.
Matchup Information
Padres vs. Dodgers Betting Preview
As one of the best pitchers in the majors so far, Joe Musgrove will make the start for the Padres. He has an 8-1 record in 13 starts this year, and he’s pinned up a 2.12 ERA in that time. His 0.95 WHIP is the seventh-best in the MLB.
Before a loss to Philadelphia last Thursday, Musgrove had come out on the right side of three straight starts. In six innings against the Phillies, he gave up seven hits and six earned runs – the most he’s allowed all season.
During the three games before that defeat, he’d conceded a combined two earned runs.
Los Angeles’ Mitch White has pitched in 10 MLB matchups in 2022, posting a 1-1 mark and a 4.25 ERA. The Los Angeles Dodgers haven’t won with him on the mound this month, though. He hasn’t gone more than five innings in any of those three outings.
White has allowed three or fewer earned runs in each of his appearances this season.
San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Picks and Predictions
The Padres have something to prove here. On the road, they’ll be aiming to get back at Los Angeles for the series earlier this schedule. White will have to deal with Machado, who has been swinging the bat well all season.
With your daily MLB picks today, go with San Diego to win outright, bringing themselves closer to the Dodgers in the standings. This has been one of the more closely-contested battles to this point.
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