The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres are set to face off in the NLDS which kicks off later this evening. These two fierce NL West rivals are meeting again in the postseason, and the stakes couldn't be higher — as well as the bets.
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The Dodgers had the best record in baseball this year, but the Padres have been one of the most complete teams in the league, despite losing key players to injuries. All of that makes for a very interesting matchup.
Here’s a look at what to expect from the series, including game times, betting odds, and analysis of how these two teams match up. We’ll even give you our expert opinion and prediction for how the series will unfold.
If you’re going to bet on the games, you should try to catch the games. Here are the times of every game in the Dodgers vs. Padres series.
Game 1: Padres at Dodgers, Saturday, Oct. 5, 8:38 p.m. ET (FS1)
Game 2: Padres at Dodgers, Sunday, Oct. 6, 8:03 p.m. ET (FS1)
Game 3: Dodgers at Padres, Tuesday, Oct. 8, Time TBD (FOX/FS1)
Game 4: Dodgers at Padres, Wednesday, Oct. 9, Time TBD (FOX/FS1, if necessary)
Game 5: Padres at Dodgers, Friday, Oct. 11, Time TBD (FOX/FS1, if necessary)
Given how dominant the Dodgers have been this season, we really expected them to be favored a bit more than just -135. However, that just goes to show how complete the Padres are this year.
Los Angeles Dodgers: -135
San Diego Padres: +115
These odds suggest the Dodgers are slight favorites, but the Padres are very much in the conversation as a real threat. The series is expected to be tight, and the odds reflect just how evenly matched these teams are despite their different paths to the playoffs.
When comparing the rotations and bullpens, the Padres appear to have a clear advantage in pitching depth, even with the unfortunate injury to Joe Musgrove.
Before Musgrove went down, San Diego boasted perhaps the best postseason rotation. In fact, they had one of the best rotations in the entire league with a healthy Musgrove. Without him, their rotation is still a challenge for the Dodgers, but not as overpowering.
Dylan Cease. Cease has no-hit potential and is arguably one of the most dangerous pitchers on either team. He can overpower any lineup with his fastball and devastating slider. He will be one of the keys to the Padres rotation.
Michael King. While not nearly as flashy as some of the rest, King has become a dependable starter and could play a big role for the Padres in this series.
Yu Darvish. Despite injury concerns earlier this season, Darvish has shown some good signs of returning to his old self and adds a veteran presence to the Padres’ rotation.
Martín Pérez. Pérez stepped up in Musgrove’s absence and will likely be called upon to help San Diego navigate at least one of the games in this series.
The Padres bullpen, featuring Robert Suarez, Tanner Scott, Jason Adam, and Jeremiah Estrada, has been nothing short of elite. They combined for a 2.56 ERA during the regular season, with an insane strikeout rate that could be decisive some of the later in games.
For the Dodgers, it’s a different story.
Los Angeles’ pitching staff has been decimated by injuries. They added Jack Flaherty and Michael Kopech at the deadline, but their rotation still feels shaky beyond the top two starters.
Jack Flaherty. Picked up in a trade with the Tigers, Flaherty has been inconsistent this season but is capable of locking in for big performances.
Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Yamamoto was a crucial acquisition for the Dodgers and is expected to be a difference-maker. He'll need to be nearly flawless to keep pace with the Padres' rotation.
The Dodgers’ bullpen is solid but lacks the star power of the Padres. They were 4th in the MLB overall for bullpen ERA with a 3.53. That said, they’ve had several days to rest and reset, which could give them a small advantage early in the series.
But overall, San Diego holds the pitching edge going into the series.
Los Angeles enters the NLDS with a lineup full of heavy hitters.
Leading the charge are Shohei Ohtani, Mookie Betts, and Freddie Freeman. Ohtani, in particular, is in the best shape we’ve ever seen any player. Recently formed the 50/50 club, his two-way talent adds an extra layer of excitement to the series, especially since this is his first postseason appearance with the Dodgers. We’re not sure if we’ll see him throw, but some have said he’s well enough to get on the mound.
Betts will be looking to redeem himself after a disappointing 2023 playoff performance, and Freeman remains one of the most consistent hitters in baseball.
However, the Padres' offense is no slouch either.
Fernando Tatis Jr. has the potential to be the X-factor in this series. His flair for the dramatic and his past success at Dodger Stadium (12 home runs in 34 games) make him a constant threat at the plane.
Along with Tatis, the Padres have Juan Soto and Manny Machado, both capable of turning the tide of a game with one swing of the bat — and they often do with XBH. Their offense combines power and contact, with the ability to put pressure on the Dodgers' pitchers from the start.
One thing to watch for is how well the Dodgers’ bullpen handles this relentless Padres lineup.
San Diego has been known to pounce early and put games out of reach, and if they can get to the Dodgers’ starters early, it could spell trouble for Los Angeles.
Of course, these two teams have a lot going for them. However, there are a couple of areas that we’ll keep a close eye on as this is where we think we’ll see the difference-makers.
Dodgers’ pitching depth. Can the Dodgers’ starters hold up? Yamamoto and Flaherty will need to perform at a high level, and someone like Landon Knack may need to step up in a big way.
Padres’ bullpen. The Padres have one of the best bullpens in the league, and if they can shorten games by handing leads to Suarez and company, it could be lights out for the Dodgers.
Big bats. The Dodgers have the bigger names in the lineup, but the Padres have a more well-rounded offense. Watch for who can get hot at the right time. Ohtani vs. Tatis is a matchup everyone will be talking about.
Injury management. Both teams are dealing with injuries, but the Dodgers have been hit harder, especially on the pitching side. How well they can manage these challenges will be key to their success in the series.
All of that leads us to our prediction for the series.
This series has all the makings of a classic.
While the Dodgers are the slight favorites, the Padres' pitching depth, combined with their balanced offense, gives them a slight edge. They’re also coming off some momentum from dominating the Braves. If the Padres can continue to get big performances out of their bullpen and their stars, they should be able to pull off the upset.
Look for this series to go the full five games, with the Padres coming out on top, thanks to timely hitting from Tatis and clutch pitching performances from Cease and King.
We’re expecting the final game to be tight, but San Diego’s pitching depth will make the difference in this NL West showdown.
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