Dodgers vs Padres Betting Preview: Odds Analysis

The Los Angeles Dodgers (62-45) head South to San Diego to take on the San Diego Padres (54-55) to start a massive 4-game series for both clubs. The Boys in Blue lead the San Francisco Giants by 2 ½ games for supremacy in the National League West, while Friars hope to climb over the .500 mark while inching closer to a wild card spot. The Dodgers will send Bobby Miller (6-2, 4.37) to the hill to face Yu Darvish (8-7, 4.53) of the Padres. MLB odds show San Diego as a slight -122 favorite, with the total sitting at 8.5 (-120u). The Padres can be had on the run line of -1.5 at +165. We continue our Dodgers vs Padres odds preview with a deeper look at Los Angeles.

Some Things Never Change

Sure, there was a second when we all thought that the Los Angeles Dodgers run of nine division titles in 10 seasons would come to an end after LA hovered in third place in late June. Now, the numbers were not all that bad considering all the injuries to their pitching that Dave Roberts had to tip-toe through. In a span of 11 games (June 28th-July 14th), Los Angeles went from 3rd place (3 GB) to first place, a spot they’ve never relinquished.

Bobby Miller gets the ball to start an important four-game series against a team that tried to buy their way to the top in San Diego. Miller’s last outing will likely have bettors running to the window to bet the Friars after the rookie allowed three runs on six hits in five innings against the Cincinnati Reds, a 6-5 loss. All three runs allowed were in the first inning, with the righty settling down over the next four innings.

Even though the numbers for the former Louisville Cardinal (6.63 eras last seven starts) it’s hard to ignore the dominant run LA has had over San Diego. MLB scores show that San Diego has not won a season series from Los Angeles since 2010. The Dodgers have won five of their last six head-to-head meetings, outsourcing the Padres 19-7. Those are facts that should be hard to ignore for bettors. We continue our Dodgers vs Padres Odds preview by turning our attention to the Padres.

This Is What $253 Million Gets You?

If you’ve read our betting columns involving baseball games with teams who like to try and buy championships, we hope you can sense the disgust that we have for the economic state of the sport. With the third-highest payroll in all of Major League Baseball, the San Dego Padres have one playoff win over the Dodgers to show for their effort. The team is one game under .500 and again is looking up at Los Angeles in the NL West. It’s not that we take pleasure when teams with massive payrolls lose, it’s the manner in which some teams like the New York Mets go about their business.

Say all you want about the Dodgers, Atlanta Braves, and the New York Yankees payroll, the one thing they all have in common is a solid farm system. They mix high-priced veterans in with homegrown talent. They create an organization, not a fantasy team.

The Padres will send Yu Darvish to the bump in game one of a series they must gain a split in at the least. Bettors will eat up the fact that Darvish just shut down the top offense in baseball (Texas Rangers), but these specific situations are how sportsbooks make their money. We conclude our Dodgers vs Padres odds preview with our official selection.

Don’t Fall Into Tonight’s Trap

This is a classic spot for bettors to lose a percentage of their bankroll because logic tells you that San Diego is the side to bet. Two pitchers who are coming off completely opposite starts with Darvish, who had the better of their last outing, at home in a must-win situation. 69% of the early wagers are coming in on San Diego, moving the Padres from a -110 opening favorite to -122.

We can’t ignore LA winning 15 of their last 22, while the Padres have hovered around .500 while costing bettors -2227 units based on wagers to win $100 this season. Our heads want to go against the Dodgers because our hearts love a good underdog, but our instincts say to take Los Angeles on Friday. That does it for our Dodgers vs Padres odds preview, we wish you the best with all your wagers this weekend.

For MLB betting news, odds, analysis, and more, visit Point Spreads Sports Magazine.

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