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The Los Angeles Dodgers open a three-game road series against National League West division rivals San Diego Padres on August 3, 2020, at Petco Park.
Heading to Sunday’s games, these two teams were tied on top of the National League West division with a record of 6-3. Both teams are off to a good start with Los Angeles winning their last two series after splitting their opening set of the abbreviated season. Meanwhile, the Padres won their first two series of the season. Both teams were looking for a third series win on Sunday before heading to Sand Diego for a three-game set beginning August 3rd.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers lost their last two games against San Francisco Giants and were forced to end their opening series with a 2-2 tie. But since then, the Dodgers have won four out of their last five games heading to Sunday’s decider against the Arizona Diamondbacks and looking to win their third straight series. Los Angeles has batted well to start the season with Cory Seager hitting .361 to lead the team and Justin Turner already producing 8 RBIs for Los Angeles.
Walker Buehler will open the series for the Dodgers. The 26-year old right-hander went 14-4 last season with an ERA of 3.26 and a WHIP of 1.04. Buehler struck out a total of 215 hitters and allowed 77 runs in 182.1 innings pitched. This year, Buechler has one start and he didn’t get the decision during the Dodgers’ 5-2 road win against the Houston Astros He lasted just 3.2 innings while allowing two runs including one home run.
The Dodgers rank 3rd in the league wit ha total of 51 runs scored this season and they are also 8th in batting average of .253. Los Angeles is 4th in OBP at .345 and they are 6th in slugging percentage at .451. The Dodgers’ pitching staff is averaging a league-best 2.04 ERA this season and also boasts of the fifth-best WHIP of 1.05 and a BAA of .194 which is 3rd overall.
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are off to a good start as well. Heading to their Sunday contest against the Rockies, they are tied with the Dodgers for the top spot in the National League West with a record of 6-3. The Padres won their first two series of the season and on Sunday, they were looking for a third straight series victory. Like the Dodgers, they are one of the top offensive teams in the young season. Fernando Tatis leads the team with a .286 batting average while Trent Grisham paces San Diego with three home runs.
Chris Paddack will open on top of the mound for the Padres. The 24-year old right-hander has two stats already this season and he has a 1-0 record with an ERA of 1.64 and a WHIP of 1.00. The Padres lost to the Giants 6-7 in Paddacks the last start but he didn’t get the decision after pitching just five innings and allowing two runs.
The Padres have scored a league-leading 53 runs this season and they are ranked 19th in batting average at .233. San Diego also ranks 8th in OBP at .338 and are .419 in slugging percentage. The Padres’ pitching staff has an ERA of 4.16, 14th overall. They also have a WHIP of 1.34 and a BAA of .262
Who Wins?
The Dodgers are 6-3 SU in their last nine games played. Los Angeles is 4-1 SU in their last five games played on the road, and 2-1 SU in their last three road games played on the road against National League teams. The Padres are also 6-3 SU in their last nine games played. San Diego is 3-2 SU in their last five games played on the road, and are also 3-2 SU in their last five road games. Head to head, the Dodgers are 8-2 SU in their last 10 meetings against the Padres and have won the last five.
The Dodgers have owned the Padres in their recent head to head meetings. Los Angeles has won their last five games against San Diego but this season, both teams have looked equally good on the offensive end. The Padres have scored a league-best 53 runs while Los Angeles had driven home 51 runs this year. With both offenses matching each other, I think this will go down to pitching. Buehler had a great 2019 but had a poor start to his 2020 season while Paddack is having a good start with only two runs given up in his first two starts. I like Buehler but Paddack is playing better to start the year and I have to go with that.
Prediction: San Diego Padres (+129)
Other Bets to Make
The total has gone under in seven out of the last nine games played by Los Angeles. The Dodgers have seen the total go under in four out of their last five away games. The under is also 5-2 in their last seven games against the National League. The total has gone under in four out of the last nine games played by the Padres away from home. Head to head, the total has gone over in five out of their last 10 meetings between these two teams.
These teams have combined to score an average of 8.9 runs per game in their last 10 meetings and 6.67 runs per game in their last three head to head matchups. These are two of the top offenses in the league to start this shortened season but I don’t expect too many runs in this game. Los Angeles has allowed 14 runs in their last five games because they have a pitching staff that has held their opponents to a .194 batting average. The Dodgers lead the league with a 2.04 ERA right now and while the Padres have not been as good as a team, Paddack has shut down opposing batter through two starts. I like these teams to hit the under.
Prediction: Under 8 (-110)
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