Football 
Tennis 
Horse Racing San Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodgers Game 3 Best Bet: NLDS Level Approaching Game 3
San Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodgers Game 3 Best Bet: Friday, October 14th
The National League Divisional Series between the Dodgers and Padres switches venues after each team found a win in Los Angeles. Our resident baseball expert Ej Garr is hoping he has found the best trend to follow as the series moves to San Diego for Games 3 and 4 of the series. A trip to the NLCS is on the line and we might see this series go the distance.
In this article:
San Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodgers Preview
October 15, 01:37 (UK time)
Have you noticed it yet? I have, and I hope we take advantage of it happening again when we shift venues and continue the NLDS. The ‘It’ I am talking about is the fact that all of the runs being scored in this series are coming early, despite the stellar pitching we are seeing.
Each of the first two games has ended 5 – 3, but all 8 of the runs in game 1 were scored before we got to the 6th inning. It was 5 – 3 when the 5th inning ended, and it was 5 – 3 when the final pitch was thrown that ended the game.
Game 2 the other night was a 3 – 3 affair headed to the 4th inning, and in my opinion, Darvish and Kershaw was a better pitching matchup than we had in game 1. Mike Clevinger didn’t even get out of the 3rd inning in game 1, and Urias barely made it his normal 5 innings, which means this series has been all about the bullpens and early runs.
The bullpens have done the fireman thing and I miss those days when they quite literally referred to the mid-range bullpen as firemen. Coming in late to put out the fires that the starters might have mistakenly created is no easy task, especially when men are in scoring position when you enter the game. I think relievers are underrated and unappreciated, as the starters and closers are the guys getting the headlines and accolades for wins. When those guys come into the game and blow a lead, it’s all about how lousy the bullpen is and how difficult it is to find dudes who can handle those moments.
Let’s make no mistake, that one mistake is all takes. A hanging slider that just didn’t cut just turned into a 3-run homer that turned the entire game around, so there is so much pressure on them. At least a starter knows he can usually make a mistake or two and still last 5 or 6 innings for the most part. Playoff baseball sure expands every meaningful pitch, and it seems like these two teams are getting to the starters early.
Snellzilla and his shoes will toe the slab for San Diego, and the Padres are only 9 – 16 in his starts this campaign. Blake Snell (8 – 10; 3.43 ERA) faced the Dodgers twice down the stretch of the regular season, one outing went great and the other not so much. Overall, he went up against the Dodgers 3 times during the campaign, and that first start back on July 1 was ridiculous. Snell struck 12 Dodgers, which was his season-high mark until he knocked out 13 against St. Louis on September 21.
I think Tony Gonsolin had the quietest 1-loss season a starter could possibly have. The due lost one game all year! There should be a parade just for that accomplishment in downtown LA if they win another World Series this year. I guess the only issue is the depth of his starts throughout the year, as he only averaged 5⅓ IP for the entire campaign.
Gonsolin has only pitched a total of 2 innings since August 29, and that was 11 ays ago against the Rockies. He couldn’t even shut them down giving up a run in his only outing before the post-season. I do believe we have every reason to question the choice to send Gonsolin out here for Game 3, but we will enjoy it.
San Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodgers Best Bet
I am seeing Bwin offering 1.87 for the Over 3.5 runs through 5 innings of play, and with all of the runs being scored early so far in the series, I just ask for it to happen one more time. Gonsolin not pitching but 2 innings for two months gives me reasons to think he can give up a run or two to support our cause. We just need a 2 – 2 game going to the 6th inning to cash a ticket!
- Selection: 1st5-inning Over 3.5 Runs
- Best odds: 1.87 (Bwin)
- Stakes: 4/10
Odds as of 9:00 am October 14, 2022. Odds may now differ.
More San Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodgers Tips
