San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Dodgers 8/7/22 - MLB Picks & Predictions

The San Diego Padres will close out a key series at Dodger Stadium to take on their rival Los Angeles Dodgers. The Padres had won five straight games, but dropped their last two games to the Dodgers and Rockies, and fell 13.5 games back of the Dodgers. Los Angeles is one of the hottest teams in the MLB and have won nine of their last ten games, including a sweep of the Giants on the road and moved to 40 games over .500.

Los Angeles is one of the best teams, and best offenses, in baseball averaging 5.27 run sper game which is second in the league. With a number of all-stars, including Mookie Betts who leads the team with 25 home runs, first baseman Freddie Freeman who leads the team hitting .324, and speedy shortstop Trae Turner leading the team with 77 RBIs. 

The left-handed Tyler Anderson will get the start for the Dodgers, he’s been dominant this season going 12-1 with a 2.89 ERA and 1.03 WHIP as he continues to have a career season. Anderson did struggle in his last start allowing five runs on six hits and issuing four walks. For most of the season, Anderson has been one of the best pitchers in baseball and this could be a key start against a division rival.

The Padres offense is 14th in the league in scoring offense, but of course that doesn’t include the additions of Josh Bell and Juan Soto. Soto and Bell came to the Padres from the Nationals at the deadline in one the biggest trades in the last decade of the MLB. Manny Machado has also continued to produce for the Padres hitting .293 with 19 home runs and 60 RBIs, all three of which lead the team.

The veteran Yu Darvish will get the start for the Padres and has continued to be a strong piece of the rotation. Darvish allowed six innings allowing three runs on six hits and struck out seven as the Padres dominated the Rockies in a 13-5 win. Darvish is in his 10th year in the bigs, and this ranks among one his better season, he has a career 3.54 ERA and 1.14 WHIP on the season.