Two teams headed in opposite directions for their playoff hopes meet up this week as the Los Angeles Dodgers (78-47) travel south to face the San Diego Padres (68-58). The Dodgers are 16-4 in their last 20 games and now just 2.5 games out of first place, while the Padres are 2-9 in the last 11 and out of the playoff picture for the first time this season.
The Dodgers will start LHP Julio Urias (13-3, 3.29) on Tuesday, while the Padres starter is TBA. The series opener is set for 10:00 p.m. ET at Petco Park in San Diego. The Padres are 7-3 against the Dodgers this season, including a three-game sweep at Petco in June.
Dodgers Heating Up
The defending World Series champions are getting into gear at the right time. After boosting their roster at the trade deadline, the Dodgers are 16-4 over the last 20 games and 9-1 over the last 10.
The addition of Max Scherzer has filled the rotation vacancy left by Clayton Kershaw’s injury and Trevor Bauer’s volatile situation. Scherzer is 3-0 with a 2.11 ERA in a Dodgers uniform, and the team leads all of baseball with a 2.29 ERA in August.
Urias adds to the Dodgers’ riches as he comes off the injured list to start on Tuesday. The lefty missed his last start with a calf contusion after allowing two hits over five shutout innings against the Mets on August 13. Urias is 4-0 since losing in San Diego on June 21, when he allowed a season-worst six runs on two homers over four innings.
The offense is also primed to get Mookie Betts back from the injured list this week, but he won’t play on Tuesday. Max Muncy is on a tear with 28 homers and 76 RBI this season, including five homers and 11 RBI in his last eight games. Trea Turner led the Dodgers through the win streak, batting .464 (13-for-28) with five multi-hit games in his last seven outings.
Padres Falling Apart
It has been a rough August for the Padres, who fell behind the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday for the last playoff spot. Not too long ago, the Friars were back-and-forth with the Dodgers for the top Wild Card spot and a threat to the San Francisco Giants in the NL West. Now, with just 36 games left, they are 10.5 games behind the Dodgers for the top Wild Card spot and one game behind the Reds for the final spot.
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) August 22, 2021
Injuries have been an issue for the Padres. Their pitching has fallen on hard times with Yu Darvish and Chris Paddack on the injured list, while newcomer Jake Arrieta lasted just one start before getting hurt. Pitching coach Larry Rothschild took the fall on Monday as he was fired, and the Padres have two TBD spots in the rotation for this three-game series.
Fernando Tatis Jr. has been limited to outfield duty since coming off the IL on August 15. He is 7-for-17 (.259) with three homers and six RBI, but the Padres are just 2-5 since he came back to the lineup.
Betting Analysis
- LA Dodgers -130 Moneyline. -1.5 run line (+135)
- San Diego Padres +110 Moneyline. +1.5 run line (-110)
- Total: 8 runs. Over -110. Under -110.
The Padres had the Dodgers’ number earlier this season, but these teams have been vastly different since June, especially with the Padres pitching problems. The Dodgers are firing on all cylinders right now and should be able to make a statement this week in San Diego. They will likely be careful with Urias in his return from the IL but the bullpen can carry the weight.
FREE PICK: Dodgers -1.5 run line (+135)