For the second time in the last three years, the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers – NL West rivals – will meet again in the playoffs. Here's our picks for Game 1 of this NLDS matchup between the two.
The Dodgers have dominated the Padres this season and in their little shared playoff history. This year, Los Angeles won 14 of their 19 games versus San Diego. In 2020, the Dodgers swept the Padres in the NLDS, the only time these two teams have ever met in the playoffs.
While the Dodgers have made the postseason every year since 2013, the Padres' last playoff appearance prior to the 2020 season was in 2006. In terms of playoff experience, Los Angeles holds a heavy edge over San Diego.
Here are my MLB picks and predictions for Tuesday night's opening NLDS game between the Padres and Dodgers (odds via FanDuel Sportsbook, BetMGM, and DraftKings Sportsbook; pick confidence based on a 1-to-5 scale).