Los Angeles Dodgers (39-27) vs. San Diego Padres (37-27)
The 2025 Major League Baseball season continues Tuesday, June 10, with the Los Angeles Dodgers squaring off against the San Diego Padres in the NL West showdown at Petco Park in San Diego, CA, and we’ve got you covered with our Dodgers vs. Padres prediction.
It’s the second of a three-game series at Petco Park, and Monday’s opener has been excluded from the analysis. Just one game separated the Dodgers and the Padres ahead of their first meeting of the season.
Now, let’s take a closer look at this Dodgers vs. Padres prediction, one of our MLB picks for Tuesday’s card. The first pitch is set at 9:40 PM ET.
The Dodgers’ injury crisis continues
At the time of writing, it was unknown who would get the starting call for the Los Angeles Dodgers on Tuesday night. Tony Gonsolin landed on the IL two days ago, joining fellow starters Blake Snell, Roki Sasaki, Tyler Glasnow, Edgardo Henriquez, Emmet Sheehan, Gavin Stone, and Michael Grove.
The Dodgers might opt for a bullpen day. Emmet Sheehan is on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City, so he could get a call-up, as the Dodgers desperately need a fresh arm. Sheehan hasn’t pitched in the majors since September 27, 2023. The 25-year-old right-hander is 4-1 with a 4.92 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in Triple-A this season (60.1 innings pitched).
On May 3, the Dodgers were 23-10. Since then, it’s been a bumpy road for the reigning World Series champions, and the injuries certainly played a big part. The Dodgers rank second in the majors in runs scored (5.56 per game) and 22nd in runs allowed (4.44).
Last week, the Dodgers split a four-game home series against the New York Mets and dropped two out of three against the St. Louis Cardinals on the road. During that seven-game stretch, the Dodgers have scored 24 runs on a .245/.310/.367 triple-slash, while their bullpen has amassed a 3.33 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, and a .221 batting average against.
The Padres continue to lean on their pitching staff
The San Diego Padres haven’t lost the series since May 22 when the Toronto Blue Jays swept them in a three-game set. Since then, the Padres have taken two out of three from the Atlanta Braves, Miami Marlins, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Milwaukee Brewers while splitting a four-game series against the San Francisco Giants.
Last week, San Diego embarked on a seven-game road trip. After that set against the Giants, the Padres outscored the Brewers 6-4 in a three-game set. San Diego blanked Milwaukee 2-0 in the opener and 1-0 in the closer. The Padres are now 22nd in the MLB in runs scored (4.05 per game) and ninth in runs allowed (3.77).
Dylan Cease is expected to take the mound on Tuesday night, and the 29-year-old right-hander carries a 1-5 record with a 4.72 ERA and 1.31 WHIP in 13 starts (68.2 IP) this season. He’s allowed three earned runs in four straight outings, posting a 4.98 ERA across 21.2 frames during that stretch.
Cease is 1-1 with a 2.61 ERA and 1.45 WHIP in four regular-season starts against the Dodgers in his career. He met the Blue Crew twice in the 2024 NLDS and was shelled for eight earned runs on 10 hits and three walks through just five innings of work.
Best Bets for Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres
Full-Game Side Bet
Insiders Status:
The Dodgers know Dylan Cease well and are 32-for-112 with nine walks, nine doubles, and five home runs against him. Keep your eyes on Shohei Ohtani, who’s 6-for-19 with a double and three homers versus Cease.
Hereof, I will go with the Dodgers even if they opt for a bullpen day. They are arguably a much better offensive team than San Diego. The Padres scored just 17 runs last week, slashing an ugly .225/.284/.296 across seven games, though they met a couple of top-notch pitching staffs.
Dylan Cease will be a key factor. The Dodgers destroyed Cease in the 2024 NLDS, so I don’t trust him at all. This season, Cease is in the 92nd percentile in whiff percentage and 17th percentile in barrel percentage.
Full-Game Total Pick
Insiders Status:
Should Dylan Cease start to struggle, the Padres won’t hesitate to make an early call to their bullpen. San Diego’s relief pitching has been terrific for most of the season, and over the last 10 days, the Padres ‘pen has compiled a shiny 1.19 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, and a .163 batting average against.
Hereof, give me the under on the total. It’s a tricky wager because of the Dodgers’ mighty lineup, and they could opt for a bullpen day. Yet, the Dodgers ‘pen has somewhat improved lately, and the Padres will continue to lean on their relievers.
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