La Dodgers Dodgers vs San Diego Padres Picks and Predictions September 26th 2024

First pitch for Thursday’s Padres vs. Dodgers matchup is set for 10:10 PM ET from Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. The Dodgers are the betting favorite, with their money line odds sitting at -125 compared to the Padres at +106. The over/under line is currently 8.5 runs.

Joe Musgrove will be starting for the Padres, and he is facing off against Walker Buehler. The Dodgers come into the game with a record of 94-64, while the Padres are 91-67 overall. Los Angeles is currently in first place in the NL West, while the Padres are second.

San Diego vs. Los Angeles Key Information

Right-hander Joe Musgrove gets the start for the Padres today as he faces the Dodgers on the road. He has made 18 starts this season and has a record of 6-5 with a 3.95 ERA. Musgrove’s WHIP for the season is 1.19, and opponents are batting .249 off him this year. In his last outing, Musgrove finished with a no-decision, going six innings and not allowing a run against the White Sox. Before that, he had given up at least six earned runs in two straight starts. Musgrove has made nine quality starts this year and is averaging 9.16 strikeouts per nine innings.

San Diego comes into the game with the league’s top batting average at .264 and are also the top home run hitting team in the league. Overall, they are 8th in the league in scoring, averaging 4.7 runs per game. The Padres have been even better on the road this season, averaging 5.1 runs per contest.

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Manny Machado and Jurickson Profar have been the Padres’ top power threats this season, as Machado’s 29 homers leads the team and is 13th in the league, while Profar has also gone deep 24 times. Machado’s 104 RBIs is also 7th best in the MLB. Over his last seven games, Machado has three homers, but is just 6/26 (.231). Fernando Tatis Jr. has also gone deep three times in this stretch, while batting .300.

Walker Buehler gets the start for the Dodgers today as he faces the Padres at home. He has made 15 starts this year and has a record of 1-6 with a 5.63 ERA. Buehler’s WHIP for the season is 1.58, and he has turned in three quality starts. In his last outing, Buehler took the loss, giving up four earned runs in 5 1/3 innings of work. Looking back over his last four outings, he has allowed at least two homers in three of them. Buehler has given up a total of 16 homers this year. Per nine innings, he is averaging 3.45 walks compared to 8.06 strikeouts.

Shohei Ohtani has been on a tear for the Dodgers, hitting .500 over his last 10 games with six homers and 21 RBIs. For the season, Ohtani is batting .303 with a league-leading 125 RBIs and 53 homers, which is also the best in the MLB. Teoscar Hernández is also having a strong season for the Dodgers, as he is batting .269 with 31 homers.

Overall, the Dodgers have the league’s best isolated power figure and are 3rd in home runs this season. They are also one of the league’s top offenses in terms of scoring, averaging 5.1 runs per game. As a team, they are batting .256, which is 5th in the league.

Our projections have the Dodgers putting together a big game on offense today, as they are our 4th ranked team in terms of runs scored, and we are leaning towards taking them to win on the money line. As for how we would play the over/under line, we would go with the over, as this is projected to be the 4th highest-scoring game of the day, and the 7th lowest in terms of hits. Today’s matchup features the lowest combined strikeout projection, and Walker Buehler has the 3rd best odds to pick up a win.

Dodgers Look to Clinch NL West with Win Over Padres

Shohei Ohtani is on the verge of leading the Los Angeles Dodgers to another milestone. Following his historic 50-50 season, Ohtani continues to deliver in clutch moments, and his go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning helped the Dodgers secure a 4-3 victory over the San Diego Padres on Wednesday. With the win, the Dodgers moved closer to clinching their 11th National League West title in 12 seasons.

Ohtani, who has been instrumental in September, now has the opportunity to finish the job as the Dodgers and Padres face off for the final time in the regular season on Thursday night in Los Angeles.

“With the fans and within the team, I do feel like there is some sense of elevation when it comes to playing these meaningful games,” Ohtani said through his interpreter, Will Ireton.

Dodgers Eye Division Clincher

The Dodgers (94-64) now have a magic number of two to clinch the division title. A victory on Thursday would secure the crown in front of their home fans at Dodger Stadium.

“Being able to celebrate in front of the home fans would be something that I am looking forward to,” said Ohtani, who has yet to make the MLB playoffs despite his illustrious career with the Los Angeles Angels prior to joining the Dodgers.

Ohtani has been on fire in September, posting a .364 batting average, smashing nine home runs, driving in 27 RBIs, and swiping 13 bases. His stolen base on Wednesday brought his season total to 56, complementing his 53 home runs.

Buehler Takes the Mound for the Dodgers

Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler (1-6, 5.63 ERA) will take the mound on Thursday. Buehler is coming off a season-high nine-strikeout performance in a 6-3 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Saturday. The right-hander has enjoyed success against the Padres throughout his career, posting a 6-1 record with a 1.80 ERA in 11 starts.

Los Angeles will be without shortstop Miguel Rojas, who is scheduled for an MRI on his left groin after exiting Wednesday’s game. Tommy Edman is expected to fill in at shortstop.

Padres Clinch Playoff Spot, Still Eye Wild-Card Finish

Even with their loss on Wednesday, the Padres (91-67) are having an impressive season. They clinched a playoff berth with their victory over the Dodgers on Tuesday night, followed by a champagne celebration in the locker room. San Diego is 8-4 against the Dodgers this season, and despite the setback on Wednesday, they remain the team with the best record since the All-Star break at 41-18.

Fernando Tatis Jr. provided a highlight for the Padres on Wednesday with his 21st home run of the season. He has now hit 12 homers in 33 career games at Dodger Stadium, continuing his dominance at the venue.

San Diego is also close to securing the top National League wild-card spot. They hold a 3 1/2-game lead over the Arizona Diamondbacks and New York Mets with just a few games remaining. After Thursday’s contest, the Padres will wrap up the regular season with a three-game series against the Diamondbacks in Phoenix.

“We’re just going to keep coming,” Tatis said. “We still have a shot. We’ll just take what we have left. We’re definitely going to bring the same energy (Thursday) and keep going like that.”

Musgrove Looks to Extend Scoreless Streak

The Padres will counter with right-hander Joe Musgrove (6-5, 3.95 ERA) on the mound for Thursday’s matchup. Musgrove is coming off two straight scoreless starts, and he has not allowed a run in three of his last four starts, covering 18 innings.

Musgrove will look to secure his first career win against the Dodgers in his 13th start. So far, he is 0-7 with a 4.48 ERA against them in 62 1/3 innings.