The Los Angeles Dodgers (74-33, 37-15 home) battle the San Diego Padres (61-49, 30-26 away) in a key divisional showdown on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball. Los Angeles took the first two games of the series and are 7-2 against the Padres this year.
The first pitch of Sunday’s contest is at 7:00 pm EST at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, California. Los Angeles is the betting favorite at -135, and the over-under total is 8.5 runs.
What to Know – San Diego Padres
San Diego needs a win Sunday night to stop a three-game losing skid and get back into the win column. The Friars sit comfortably in second place in the National League West, trailing the Dodgers by 14.5 games.
Right-hander Yu Darvish (10-4, 3.30 ERA, 0.99 WHIP) is the probable starter for the visitors. Yu has won three of his last four starts and hasn’t suffered a loss since the beginning of July. The 35-year-old has thrown 128.1 innings, allowing 47 earned runs on 101 hits and 26 walks while striking out 127 batters.
The Padres’ offense got a major boost right before the trade deadline, with the addition of Juan Soto in arguably the biggest move of the final day for trades.
Soto has picked up hits in all four games in a Padres uniform (5-for-14). Manny Machado continues to lead San Diego’s offense with 19 home runs, 60 runs batted in, and a .293 batting average.
On offense, San Diego scores 4.4 runs per game thanks to a lineup that ranks 17th in the league with a .241 team batting average. The pitching staff for the Padres boasts a 3.81 team earned run average, ninth in the majors.
What to Know – Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers are riding a seven-game winning streak into Sunday’s showdown and wins in ten of its last eleven contests. The Dodgers sit atop the NL West standings holding the best record in baseball.
Looking to keep the good times rolling for L.A. is right-hander Tyler Anderson (12-1, 2.89 ERA, 1.03 WHIP). Anderson has been elite on the mound this year with 12 wins and just one loss. The Las Vegas native has pitched 115.1 innings this year, surrendering 37 earned runs, 96 hits, walking 23 batters, and striking out 94.
Los Angeles is blessed with one of the best offenses in the majors and a lineup filled with All-Stars. Trea Turner has driven in 77 runs, and leadoff hitter Mookie Betts leads the team with 25 home runs. Freddie Freeman is hitting .322 and is second on the team with 69 RBIs.
The Los Angeles offense is third in the majors, hitting .253 and averaging 5.3 runs per contest. The Dodgers’ pitching staff is the best in the MLB, with a 2.90 team ERA.
The Pick is In
The Dodgers have been on a tear recently and now own the best record in baseball. But, the Dodgers’ winning streak is halted Sunday night behind the pitching performance of Darvish. San Diego scores enough to get the road win and thwart a potential sweep.
The Pick: San Diego Padres ML
