Game: Los Angeles Dodgers @ San Diego Padres
Time: 8:37 p.m. ET
Odds: Dodgers -120, Padres +100
Total: 7.5
Last year, San Diego Padres players guaranteed a home playoff game to its fans. They are going to get it.
With a 5-3 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday, the Padres tied the best-of-five National League Division Series at one game each. As a result, they are now guaranteed to host not just one but two playoff games at home.
Dodgers’ right-hander Tony Gonsolin (2022 postseason debut; 16-1, 2.14 ERA regular season) will face the Padres’ left-hander Blake Snell (0-0, 5.40 ERA postseason; 8-10, 3.38 ERA regular season) tonight in Game 3.
Gonsolin only pitched once over the final seven weeks of the regular season due to a forearm strain. He pitched two innings against Colorado on Oct. 3. During the regular season, the Dodgers went 19-5 in games that Gonsolin started. Gonsolin started twice against the Padres during the regular season and the Dodgers won both games.
Meanwhile, Snell needs to get back into the shape he was in toward the end of the regular season. After the All-Star break, he made 14 starts and recorded a 2.19 ERA with 105 strikeouts in 78 innings pitched. But in the Padres’ lone defeat to the New York Mets in the wild-card round, Snell gave up two runs on four hits and six walks in just 3 1/3 innings.
Both bullpens might be in use right away. For the Dodgers, Dustin May, who was only able to make six starts because of arm and lower back issues, returns from arm and lower back issues this season. May is capable of pitching for up to four innings and 60 pitches, according to Dodgers manager Dave Roberts.
Roberts decided to go with Gonsolin tonight instead of Tyler Anderson because the entire Dodgers bullpen will be available after having had Thursday off. Gonsolin may have some limitations as far as how deep he can go in tonight’s games. Anderson will start on Saturday night.
Padres manager Bob Melvin expects Snell to rebound from his start against the Mets. In 15 home starts this season, Snell has a 3.56 ERA and 108 strikeouts in 81 innings. His record versus the Dodgers was 0-1 in three starts, with a 3.86 ERA, 1.57 WHIP, and 23 strikeouts in 14 innings. He also walked 10, which could be an issue. Snell started two games for Tampa Bay against the Dodgers in the 2020 World Series and limited them to three runs on four hits and four walks while recording 18 strikeouts in 10 innings.
In two starts this year against the Padres, Gonsolin went 2-0 with a 0.71 ERA and 0.632 WHIP. Both games in Los Angeles finished with scores of 5-3.
The Dodgers went 14-5 SU against the Padres during the regular season. In the last five head-to-head matchups played in San Diego, Los Angeles is 4-1. The Over is 7-1 in San Diego’s last eight games and 7-3 in its last 10 against the Dodgers.
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