Dodgers vs Padres Betting Game Preview
San Diego Must Solve LA's Pitching
Early Showdown for NL West Rivals
With questions about what the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees will be able to accomplish this season, could the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres become the top rivalry in baseball this season?
A key piece in the Dodgers vs Padres betting game preview has to be the fact that Los Angeles has the best team ERA in baseball, although the rotation took a hit when Andrew Heaney was placed on the 10-day injured list with shoulder issues.
The Padres aggressively bolstered its pitching staff with offseason moves and San Diego ranks second in MLB with 132 strikeouts.
The Los Angeles Dodgers betting odds have them as the favorite at +450 to win the World Series title. The Padres currently have the ninth-best odds to win it all, but that could change once injured shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. returns to the field.
Game Information
Team records: Dodgers 9-3 (first in NL West), Padres 9-5 (tied for second in NL West)
Dates: Three-game series starts Friday at 9:40 p.m. ET (teams also play at 8:40 p.m. on Saturday and at 4:10 p.m. on Sunday)
Location: Petco Park, San Diego, Calif.
Pitching Leading First-Place Dodgers
Wonder why the Los Angeles Dodgers have the best winning percentage in baseball heading into the weekend?
Let’s start with the pitching staff. Los Angeles has the best team ERA (2.38) and also is setting the pace in walks and hits allowed per inning pitched. The Dodgers allow less than one baserunner per inning. The staff is second in opponent batting average, opponent on-base percentage and opponent slugging percentage.
Something to consider in the Dodgers vs Padres betting game preview: Los Angeles allowed 17 runs during a seven-game winning streak. All of this is happening while starting pitchers Walker Buehler and Julio Urias have yet to hit their stride.
Relievers Brusda Graterol, Daniel Hudson, Phil Bickford and Alex Vesia have not allowed a run while Tony Gonsolin has been a revelation after moving into the starting rotation with an 0.69 ERA in three starts. Gonsolin has given up four hits and no runs in 10 innings over his last two appearances.
While the current pace won’t continue forever, it has allowed the Dodgers to move to the top of the division while some of the hitters are still trying to get into a groove.
Home Cooking Agrees With Padres
The home portion didn’t get off to the best start for the San Diego Padres with back-to-back losses to reigning World Series champion Atlanta, but it didn’t take the Padres long to correct their course. San Diego has allowed four runs and 20 hits during its current four-game home winning streak.
The Padres have a 2.14 team ERA in home games and that shouldn’t be ignored when looking at the Dodgers vs Padres betting game preview.
Yu Darvish, Joe Musgrove and Sean Manaea are 4-0 with 27 strikeouts and three walks at home. Relievers Nabil Crismatt, Luis Garcia, Dinelson Lamet, Tim Hill, Taylor Rogers, Robert Suarez and Steven Wilson have yet to allow a run at home.
It hasn’t all been the pitching as Manny Machado is batting .481 at home and Eric Hosmer is hitting .375 at Petco Park. That home record will be put to the test against the visiting Dodgers.
Who’s Hot
Freddie Freeman, Dodgers 1B: Freeman is 8-for-16 with two homers and six RBIs in his last four games as his batting average jumped from .250 to .333.
Eric Hosmer, Padres 1B: Hosmer is 9-for-24 with four RBIs in his last six games.
Daniel Hudson, Dodgers P: Hudson hasn’t allowed a run in four relief appearances this season. He has allowed two hits, no walks with seven strikeouts in 3.2 innings.
Taylor Rogers, Padres P: Rogers is 5-for-5 in save opportunities. He has allowed one hit and no runs in five innings of work with five strikeouts and one walk.
Who’s Not
Mookie Betts, Dodgers OF: Betts is 1-for-17 with five strikeouts in his last five games.
Yu Darvish, Padres P: Darvish has allowed 12 hits and 10 runs in 8.1 innings in his last two appearances.
Luke Voit, Padres IF: Voit is 0-for-13 with eight strikeouts in his last four games as his batting average has plummeted to .154.
Mitch White, Dodgers P: There’s not to choose from as the Dodgers staff is off to an impressive start, but White has allowed seven hits and four runs in seven innings during his three relief outings.
MLB Injury Report
Andrew Heaney was a pleasant surprise in his first two outings for the Dodgers, but it is uncertain when he will make his next start as he is dealing with a shoulder issue.
Pitchers Danny Duffy, Dustin May and Jimmy Nelson are on the 60-day injured list and legal issues have resulted in Trevor Bauer’s administrative leave continuing to be extended.
The Dodgers are also without relievers Caleb Ferguson and Tommy Kahnle. Shortstop Gavin Lux is questionable for the series opener due to back tightness and Blake Treinen is also questionable.
The list of San Diego Padres pitchers currently sidelined could form the nucleus of a playoff-contending team.
Starters Blake Snell and Mike Clevinger are both on the 10-day injured list. Michel Baez, Adrian Morejon and Drew Pomeranz are on the 60-day injured list while Austin Adams isn’t expected to return until late May.
Shortstop Tatis, who would have been one of the NL Most Valuable Player front-runners, is likely out until mid-June.
Dodgers vs Padres Probable Starting Pitchers
Friday: Julio Urias (Dodgers) vs Nick Martinez (Padres)
Saturday: TBA vs. Yu Darvish (Padres)
Sunday: Clayton Kershaw (Dodgers) vs Sean Manaea (Padres)
Dodgers vs Padres Betting Guide
Get used to seeing the Dodgers and Padres go against each other as they are scheduled to play 19 times during the 2022 season.
When the teams meet in Friday’s opener, it will be the first time in seven games that the visiting team will be favored.
In the saving the best for last, the probable pitching matchup of Kershaw and Manaea in Sunday’s series finale could be something to behold. The Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Diego Padres prediction is trending in the Dodgers’ favor, especially with Urias and Kershaw slated to start in two of the three games.
The Dodgers have won the last nine meetings with the Padres, including three victories on the road. Only two of the last 10 games in the series were decided by one run. There were 31 runs scored in the last two showdowns between the division rivals.
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