Game: San Diego Padres @ Los Angeles Dodgers
Time: 10:10 p.m.
Odds: Padres +141, Dodgers -154
Total: 9.5
It’s Game 2 of this series between NL West rivals. Right-hander Michael Wacha of San Diego (67-77 SU and 70-74 RL) will start for the Padres. In 20 appearances this season, the 32-year-old is 11-3 with a 2.99 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. Los Angeles will counter with another right-hander, Lance Lynn (87-55 SU, 81-61 RL). In his 28 appearances this season, the 36-year-old is 10-11 with a 6.09 ERA and a 1.42 WHIP.
Over the weekend in Houston, San Diego lost two out of three games to the Astros. America’s Finest City has endured a disappointing campaign as SD failed to gain momentum following their playoff run to the NLCS last year. The Padres rank 22nd in batting average (.240), average 4.55 runs per game, and have the 17th-ranked OPS (.737).
Wacha has made eight road starts this year and is 3-0 with a 3.65 ERA and 1.17 WHIP. In his previous outing against Philadelphia, he took the loss after giving up three runs on seven hits in just four innings. In 2023, Wacha has not faced the Dodgers.
In the National League playoff race, it’s all Los Angeles and Atlanta who appear headed to a NLCS showdown. The Braves did beat the Dodgers earlier this month, winning three of four games. The Dodgers are second in the league in runs per game (5.63). They are batting .258 (10th), and have an .801 OPS (2nd). In 2023, they rank second to Atlanta with 222 home runs.
In seven starts for the Dodgers, Lynn is 4-2 with a 4.95 ERA and a 1.30 WHIP. In his most recent outing against Miami, he allowed eight runs over 4.2 innings. In six August appearances, he was 4-1 with a 3.57 ERA, including a win over the Padres.
Last month, San Diego scored just one run in six innings against Lynn. However, in his last two starts, Lynn has allowed 14 hits, 15 runs, and six homers. For the season, Lynn has been closer to disaster, allowing 40 home runs in 28 starts. That’s a career-high and 13 more than his previous high set in 2017. His WHIP of 1.42 is also a career-high.
Wacha, on the other hand, has ten quality starts in 20 appearances. The 32-year-old has been one of the few shining lights in San Diego, recording his most quality starts since the 2017 campaign with St. Louis. Since the middle of April, he has only once given up more than three runs.
The Dodgers are 16-4 SU in the last 20 games against the Padres when playing at home. The Padres haven’t had much recent success with LA. San Diego is just 2-8 SU in the last 10 games overall. The Dodgers lost two of their last three series and started this one with a loss last night. LA has only won one of its last five home games.
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