The LA Dodgers welcome the San Diego Padres to Dodger Stadium Saturday for the first of their best-of-5 NLDS series. First pitch is set for 8:38 p.m. ET (FS1). Let’s analyze BetMGM Sportsbook’s MLB odds around the Padres vs. Dodgers odds and make our expert MLB picks and predictions for the best bets.
Playoffs series: 0-0; season series: Padres won 8-5
The Dodgers won the NL West and finished with the top seed in the entire league. Los Angeles finished the regular season on fire, winning 5 straight, 2 of those of which were against the Padres. It scored double digits in 2 of its last 3 games. The Dodgers were the second-best home team in the majors, ending with a 52-28 record. They won 5 of their last 7 at home. Los Angeles is led by DH Shohei Ohtani, who ended the season with a team-high 54 home runs and 130 RBIs.
The Padres, who finished 2nd in the NL West, had the best record of any non-division winner. They beat the Atlanta Braves in back-to-back games at home to advance to the NLDS. They won those games a combined 9-4 and have won 4 of their last 5 games, including the playoffs. They lost RHP Joe Musgrove in the process, though, and he’ll miss all of next season due to Tommy John surgery. San Diego has won 6 of its last 9 games on the road. It is led by 3B Manny Machado, who finished the regular season with 29 home runs and 105 RBIs.