Monday night features two of Major League Baseball’s top pitchers when the Los Angeles Dodgers (7-3, 5-1 away) face the San Diego Padres (6-4, 3-1 home) on Monday night, August 3rd. The pitching duel features Walker Buehler and Chris Paddack, two future aces. The first pitch of the tilt is set for 9:10 pm EST inside Petco Park. The Dodgers (-130) are the road favorite in game one of a three-game series.
What to Know – Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles is rolling after taking three-of-four games from the Arizona Diamondbacks. The Dodgers outscored the D’backs 23-10 over the series and currently lead the league in hits with 83.
Beuhler (0-0, 4.91 ERA, 1.09 WHIP) was shaky in his season debut last week, going just 3.2 innings allowing three hits, one walk with three strikeouts. The righty looks to bounce back against a Padres offense currently batting just .233 as a team.
Corey Seager (.361 AVG, 3 HRs, 6 RBI) paces the Dodgers offense that averages 5.1 runs per game. Seager’s batting average is good for third in the league through the first two weeks of the season.
Offseason acquisition Mookie Betts (.289 AVG, 2 HRs, 6 RBI) started the season slowly but has flipped a switch over the last week. Betts has homered in two of his previous three games and is currently riding a seven-game hitting streak. However, the Dodgers may be without the services of their star who was lifted from Sunday’s contest with a sore middle finger and is listed as day-to-day.
The Dodgers lead the majors with the league’s lowest pitching staff earned average at 1.84.
What to Know – San Diego Padres
San Diego returns home after a six-game road trip against San Francisco and Colorado. The Friars are looking to get back to their winning ways after dropping the final two games against the Rockies.
Paddack (1-0, 1.64 ERA, 1.00 WHIP) has looked sharp in his first two starts of the season. The right-hander has struck out ten and allowed ten hits over 11 innings of work. In his last start, Paddack tossed six innings of shutout baseball, scattering four hits and punching out four.
Offensively the Friars average 5.3 runs per game behind critical situational hitting from different parts of their lineup. San Diego has six players that have brought in six or more runs this season. Leading the way is Fernando Tatis Jr. (.275 AVG, 2 HRs, 9 RBI).
San Diego will be without their starting first baseman Eric Hosmer who was placed on the 10-day injured list over the weekend as he continues to battle a stomach issue.
The Pick is In
These two starters should keep the game close through the early innings. It will be up to the team with the best bullpen to sustain an advantage over the later innings of the game. The Dodgers have proven so far this season to have one of the league’s best pens.
We will take the Dodgers (-130) in a 4-2 contest.
