If there is one thing that the San Diego Padres (12-11) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (15-6) have shown us early in the season, it is that when the two matchup it is must-watch television. These two will finish a four-game series on Sunday Night Baseball at Dodger Stadium with first pitch scheduled for 7:08 pm ET.
After dropping the first two games of the series, the Dodgers bounced back to win Saturday’s game, 5-4. In the win, Trevor Bauer gave up three runs (two earned) in six innings while striking out nine.
In the loss, it was Fernando Tatis Jr. who stole the show. He hit two more home runs for a total of four in his last two games. Both of the home runs came off of Bauer.
The Dodgers are the favorites on Sunday playing at home. They are -130 to win while the Padres’ moneyline is +110. The runline features San Diego +1.5 while the over/under for total runs is 7.5.
Pitching Matchup
The pitching matchup Sunday is a good one.
For the Padres, it will be Joe Musgrove (2-2, 1.04 ERA) taking the mound. Despite their acquisitions of Yu Darvish and Blake Snell, it might be Musgrove who has been the most impressive thus far. In his last outing, a 3-1 loss, Musgrove went seven innings allowing two runs and striking out thirteen.
The Dodgers will counter with righty Dustin May (1-1, 2.93 ERA) on the bump. He took the loss in his last start going five innings and allowing four runs (three earned) while striking out eight.
By The Number
In terms of hitting, these two have been pretty similar. The Dodgers currently rank 11th in batting average hitting .240. The Padres have hit .232 as a team, good for 14th.
Defensively, these have been two of the best teams in the majors. The Dodgers rank second in runs allowed per game to opponents at 3.25. The Padres come in third allowing 3.27.
San Diego Hopes For Road Series Win
The Padres know that to be the best, they have to beat the best. Unfortunately for San Diego, the best and reigning World Series champs, are in their own division. It is for that reason that series wins are all the more important, especially if you can steal one on the road.
Leading the way offensively for the Padres is shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr. He is currently hitting .226/.305/.585 with six home runs and eight runs batted in through 53 at bats.
While Tatis leads the team in home runs, Eric Hosmer (14) and Wil Myers (12) lead the team in runs batted in.
In their careers against Dustin May, Jake Cronenworth, Manny Machado and Jurickson Profar have all taken the righty deep once apiece.
Dodgers Still The Team To Beat
After starting the season 15-6, the Dodgers are very much the favorite to win both the division and the World Series. In fact, they are currently -600 to win the N.L. West and +300 to win the World Series.
The Dodgers are remarkably deep within their rotation, their bullpen and their starting lineup.
Offensively, it has been Justin Turner leading the way. In 73 at bats, he is hitting .356/.435/.658 with a team leading five home runs and seventeen runs batted in.
He isn’t the only one producing, though. Max Muncy (three home runs, eleven runs batted in) and Corey Seager (three home runs, fifteen runs batted in) have also gotten off to fast starts.
Taking The Padres On The Runline
As mentioned in the opening, when these two teams match up, it is must-watch television. Part of the reason for that is the fact that until the 27th out is made, both of these teams have the capability of making a comeback.
Saturday night’s game was a prime example. Even though the Dodgers were able to win the game, the Padres fought to get the tying run to third, they just couldn’t get him home.
With a great pitching matchup and two teams that will pull out all of the stops, the safest bet is to take the runline. In this case, that means taking San Diego +1.5.
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