Dodgers+118
Dodgers vs. Padres Expert MLB Analysis and Pick (Archive)
The Dodgers continue their road trip in San Diego on Monday night after sweeping the Diamondbacks in the desert over the weekend. Let’s evaluate this NL West matchup and start our week off with another winner in our MLB picks!
Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres
Monday, June 21, 2021 – 10:10 PM EDT at PETCO Park
The Dodgers are within a half-game of the top spot in the NL West after sweeping the Diamondbacks and outscoring them, 21-11, over their three-game set. On Sunday, it looked like Los Angeles would be cruising to another blowout after their 9-3 win on Saturday but the Snakes decided to bite in the eighth inning and scored six runs to pull to within a run.
However, that would be the end of the scoring as closer Kenley Jansen shut the door in the ninth inning to record his 18th save of the season. Albert Pujols smashed a three-run homer in the third inning and is now 14th on the all-time home run list. AJ Pollock went 3-for-4 and had three RBI of his own. It was the third straight win for the Dodgers and the 17th consecutive loss for the D-Backs.
“I think we just took care of business,” said Pollock. “You don’t want to get ahead of yourself. I know that team over there has lost some games. But you don’t want to be thinking too far down the road. “So, I think we did a good job of coming in, taking it day to day, and we were able to get three wins. It got a little tough at the end there. But a win’s a win.”
Padres Turn Reds Blue
While the Dodgers were taking care of business in the desert, the Padres were busy sweeping Cincinnati right out of Petco Park. The series opened on Thursday with San Diego securing a 6-4 win followed by victories on Friday and Saturday before they finished the sweep with a 3-2 decision on Sunday.
Wil Myers did all the damage that needed to be done when he tripled in the third inning of Sunday’s 3-2 victory and drove in two runs but then found his own way home after a throwing error by Cincinnati’s Joey Votto. Dinelson Lamet tossed five scoreless innings, allowing only four hits, before Tim Hill and Craig Stammen came on in scoreless relief. It was only when Emilio Pagan took the mound in the eighth inning that Cincinnati finally broke through with a pair of runs but Mark Melancon picked up the save to close out the game for the Padres.
Petco Park was rocking throughout the series after the ban had been lifted and maximum capacity now allowed. Thursday was a sellout of over 43,000 fans and the other three games were at or near capacity. It was a refreshing change for the Padres after suffering through a road trip that saw them drop seven of their last eight, including a three-game set to the Rockies in Colorado.
Wanna Make a Bet?
Julio Urias (9-2, 3.54 ERA, .96 WHIP) will get the start for the Dodgers on Monday night following a solid effort last Tuesday when he held the Phillies to three runs (two earned) on six hits over five-plus innings of work. The last time Urias faced the Padres lineup was in the NLDS when he pitched five innings of shutout ball en route to a 12-3 win in San Diego and giving the Dodgers a sweep over the Padres.
Yu Darvish (6-2, 2.57 ERA, .95 WHIP) takes the hill for the Padres against his old club and will try to rebound after a shaky performance against the Rockies in Colorado when he surrendered four runs on six hits over five full innings in an 8-4 loss. Darvish tossed a gem against the Dodgers in mid-April when he lasted seven full innings and allowed just one run on four hits in a 6-1 San Diego victory.
The Padres lead the season series 4-3 but LA has been the hotter of the two clubs over the last 10 games with an 8-2 mark and having outscored their opponents by 17 runs over that span. Conversely, San Diego is 5-5 and has been outscored by five runs over those 10 games.
The MLB odds are shading the hometown team as faves in this one but I like the way Urias is pitching while Darvish struggled in his last outing. Big Blue has a far more potent lineup and if the books want to pay me the juice by siding with the better team, then sign me up!
MLB Pick: Dodgers +118 at BetOnline (visit our BetOnline Review)
*The line and/or odds on picks in this article might have moved since the content was commissioned. For updated line movements, visit BMR’s free betting odds product.