- The LA Dodgers are home favorites in Game 2 of the 2024 NLDS against the San Diego Padres
- Yu Darvish starts for the Friars opposite the Dodgers’ Jack Flaherty
- See the Dodgers vs Padres odds, predictions, and picks for Game 2 on Sunday, Oct. 6
A 7-5 comeback win in Game 1 last night, the Los Angeles Dodgers (98-64, 52-29 home) look to take a commanding 2-0 lead in their best-of-five NLDS with the San Diego Padres (93-69, 48-33 away). First pitch is scheduled for 5:03 pm PT/8:03 pm ET at Dodger Stadium on Sunday night.
After the starters (Dylan Cease and Yoshinobu Yamamoto) struggled last night, both managers will be hoping for better in Game 2 when Yu Darvish and Jack Flaherty square off.
The Padres vs Dodgers odds favor Los Angeles, which finished with the second-most home victories (52) in the MLB in the regular season, trailing only the Phillies (54).
San Diego Padres vs LA Dodgers Odds
| Teams | Moneyline | Runline | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| San Diego Padres | +125 | +1.5 (-165) | O 8.5 (-105) |
| LA Dodgers | -150 | -1.5 (+140) | U 8.5 (-115) |
The Padres vs Dodgers moneyline lists LA at -150 with the Padres coming back as +125 road underdogs in Sunday’s MLB odds. On the runline, the Dodgers are +140 to win by two or more runs, while the Friars are -165 to keep the score within a run.
Odds as of Oct. 6 at ESPN Bet. Check out the ESPN Bet reviews or lock in the ESPN Bet promo code to wager on the 2024 MLB playoffs.
The run total is listed at 8.5 with the under only slightly favored at -115.
San Diego staked itself to an early 3-0 lead in Game 1 last night thanks to a three-run first inning. But the lead didn’t last long; LA tied it in the second and had built a two-run lead by the end of five.
Both teams went deep into their pens yesterday. The Dodgers used five relievers over 6.0 innings, while San Diego also used five relievers to cover the final 4.2 innings.
SD vs LAD Starting Pitchers for Game 2: Darvish vs Flaherty
| 7-3 | Record | 13-7 |
| 3.31 | ERA | 3.17 |
| 3.64 | xERA | 3.51 |
| 1.07 | WHIP | 1.07 |
| 23.6% | K% | 29.9% |
The starting pitching matchup in Game 2 is an intriguing one. Yu Darvish only managed 81.2 IP this year due to injuries. He wasn’t especially effective in his final 11 starts, allowing 20 runs (19 earned) over 34 innings (5.03 ERA).
But Darvish has excellent numbers against the 2024 Dodger lineup, and the sample size is huge. In 244 total at-bats, the Dodger hitters have a .201/.272/.344 slashline. Freddie Freeman has the best track record against Darvish, with a .263 average and .912 OPS (including three homers and three doubles) in 38 at-bats.
Flaherty, meanwhile, has been hit much harder by the Padres batters. In 68 ABs, San Diego’s lineup has a .279 average and .917 OPS against the 28-year-old righty. Jurickson Profar is 4-for-11 with two homers and two doubles, while Fernando Tatis Jr is 5-for-8 with a homer and three doubles.
Flaherty has a 3.60 career ERA in 25.0 postseason innings. Darvish has a 4.18 ERA in 58.0 career innings in the playoffs.
Padres vs Dodgers Game 2 Prediction
The odds are more lopsided than I was expecting given the pitching matchup and how deep the Dodgers went into their bullpen last night. Darvish’s track record against LAD is about as good as it gets considering the firepower in the Dodger dugout.
Flaherty, on the other hand, has really struggled against the Padre hitters, and he was also declining in his final few starts of the regular season (10 earned runs in 14.0 innings), which pushed his ERA from 2.86 to 3.17.
I like the value on Darvish and the Padres to even the series at +125.
SD vs LAD Pick: Padres moneyline (+125) at ESPN Bet
The San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers are set to face off in Game 2 of their National League Division Series on October 6th. After a thrilling Game 1 that saw the Dodgers come out on top with a 5-1 victory, both teams will be looking to make adjustments and come out on top in Game 2.
The Dodgers will be sending ace pitcher Walker Buehler to the mound for Game 2. Buehler has been dominant this season, posting a 14-4 record with a 2.78 ERA. He will be looking to continue his success against a potent Padres lineup that features the likes of Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado, and Eric Hosmer.
On the other side, the Padres will be countering with their own ace, Dinelson Lamet. Lamet has been impressive this season, going 3-1 with a 2.09 ERA. He will be looking to shut down the Dodgers’ offense and help the Padres even up the series.
In terms of predictions, this game is shaping up to be another close and competitive matchup between two talented teams. The Dodgers have the edge in terms of experience and depth, but the Padres have shown all season that they are a resilient and talented team capable of pulling off upsets.
Ultimately, I predict that the Dodgers will come out on top in Game 2, taking a commanding 2-0 series lead. Buehler will deliver a strong performance on the mound, while the Dodgers’ offense will be able to generate enough runs to secure the victory.
However, with the Padres’ lineup capable of exploding at any moment, this series is far from over. Game 2 is sure to be an exciting and intense matchup between two of the best teams in baseball, and fans can expect plenty of drama and excitement as the series continues to unfold.
