- What: MLB Divisional Series Playoff Game
- When: Saturday, October 5th
- Who: San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
- Time: 5:43 p.m. PST
- Where: Dodger Stadium (Los Angeles, CA)
The Los Angeles Dodgers host the San Diego Padres in the first National League Division Series game at Dodger Stadium.
San Diego Padres
The Padres head into the NLDS against the Los Angeles Dodgers with confidence, having won 8 out of 12 games against them in the regular season.
They easily swept the Braves and piled up the runs while doing so. The Padres’ offense will rely on right-handed hitters like Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado to produce runs against Dodgers’ pitcher Yoshinobu Yamamoto, who has been more effective against left-handed hitters.
“This is what everyone wanted.”#FightForTheFaithful pic.twitter.com/BwKaOfSeZq
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) October 5, 2024
However, the Padres will be without Joe Musgrove due to injury. Despite this setback, the Padres should have enough talent to challenge the Dodgers.
Ace Dylan Cease will take the mound for the Padres. In Cease’s starts against the NL West rival this year, San Diego and Los Angeles each won a game.
However, San Diego outscored the Dodgers by six runs in those games. Cease finished September with a 2.97 ERA in five starts and threw 14 1/3 consecutive scoreless innings to close the month.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers have been eagerly waiting for this matchup, especially after the bitter taste of being eliminated in the NLDS by the Padres a few years ago.
Shohei Ohtani, making his postseason debut, is set to play a pivotal role in helping the Dodgers overcome their past struggles and instilling a sense of hope and optimism in the fans.
Tonight's NLDS Game 1 #Dodgers lineup vs. Padres: pic.twitter.com/cr1lSLGhFU
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) October 5, 2024
Ohtani’s performance and contributions from Freddie Freeman, Mookie Betts, and Tescoscar Hernandez will be crucial. The Dodgers have opted for Yamamoto instead of Jack Flaherty for the first game. Yamamoto has had difficulties against the Padres this season.
The team’s bullpen is also facing challenges. Overall, the Dodgers success will depend on Ohtani setting the tone, followed by solid performances from others, while Yamamoto needs to minimize mistakes on the mound.
Padres-Dodgers Best Bet
This is going to be a great series, and while I believe the Padres may be able to upset the Dodgers in this first game, I don’t want to bet on it.
I’m targeting the total in this one instead. 7.5 runs does not seem like a very high total, considering the power both of these lineups have.
Even if Cease pitches well, I could envision a scenario where the bullpen allows a few runs to this Dodgers team.
Over 7.5 runs is going to be the best bet in this one at -115 odds.
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Tony Reyes is a sports betting analyst and reporter for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X @TonyParlay.
