On Wednesday evening, the Los Angeles Dodgers (1-2, 1-2 RL, 3-0 O/U) will face off against the San Diego Padres (4-1, 2-3 RL, 4-1 O/U) in game four of the National League Division Series. The Dodgers have opted for a bullpen game, while the Padres are set to start Dylan Cease. After a close 6-5 victory on Tuesday night, the Padres now lead the series 2-1.
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Dodgers Face Do-or-Die Situation
Manager Dave Roberts has decided to employ a bullpen strategy for this critical matchup. Ryan Brasier is likely to serve as the opener, having recorded a 3.54 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP this season. Rookie Landon Knack may take on the bulk of the innings, showcasing a respectable 3.65 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over 69 innings pitched. In his previous encounter with the Padres, Knack allowed four runs in four innings, resulting in a loss. Alex Vesia is another vital component in the bullpen, boasting a strong 1.76 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP for the season.
The Dodgers will rely heavily on their bullpen as they aim to push the series to a decisive game five. With a combined bullpen ERA of 3.53 and a WHIP of 1.18, they have shown potential. Notably, one of their pitchers, either Yamamoto or Flaherty, may be reserved for a possible game five.
In terms of offensive performance, Los Angeles had a strong start with seven runs in game one but only managed two runs on five hits in game two. They rebounded slightly in game three, scoring five runs, four of which came from a grand slam. However, the Dodgers have struggled with runners in scoring position, converting only 6 of 24 opportunities in this series.
Star player Shohei Ohtani made headlines with a significant home run in game one but has been relatively quiet since, recording just one hit in eight at-bats across games two and three. He currently holds a .693 OPS in the series, compared to his regular-season OPS of .922 against the Padres. Meanwhile, catcher Will Smith has yet to find his rhythm, going 0 for 8 in the series.
Despite these challenges, the Dodgers possess a powerful offense that averaged 5.2 runs during the regular season, ranking second in the league. Their pitching staff had a 3.90 ERA, placing them 13th overall.
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Padres Shine with Offensive Firepower
The San Diego Padres will send Dylan Cease to the mound on Wednesday evening. Cease, pitching on three days of rest, faced difficulties in game one against the Dodgers, allowing five runs in just 3.1 innings, leading to a no-decision. Throughout the season, he compiled a 3.47 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP with a 14-11 record. In the regular season, he limited the Dodgers to four runs over 10.2 innings. Cease holds a 2.61 ERA and a 1-1 record against Los Angeles in his career, but he has struggled in postseason play, giving up eight runs in six innings. The Padres’ bullpen, however, has demonstrated depth, throwing four scoreless innings in game three.
While pitching and defense are often critical in the postseason, San Diego has been impressive at the plate. They scored nine runs in their sweep against the Braves and have tallied 21 runs in the first three games of this series. The Padres are 6 for 23 with runners in scoring position, and they have hit eight home runs so far.
Key players are stepping up for the Padres, with Fernando Tatis Jr. delivering significant contributions, hitting four home runs and driving in seven runs throughout the postseason. In this series alone, he has hit three homers and tallied five RBIs with an impressive 1.9 OPS. Xander Bogaerts has also made his mark, accumulating four RBIs in the series.
During the regular season, San Diego’s offensive performance was slightly less potent than the Dodgers’, averaging 4.69 runs per game, which ranked them 12th. Their pitching staff produced a 3.86 ERA, placing them 13th.
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Key Betting Insights for Dodgers vs. Padres
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the first game of this series but have since lost two consecutive games. They find themselves in a must-win situation to avoid elimination. The San Diego Padres, on the other hand, have won four out of five postseason games, gaining momentum after outscoring the Dodgers 16-7 in the last two contests.
Moreover, the Dodgers’ bullpen strategy raises concerns for this elimination game. Landon Knack, who may pitch significant innings, ended September with a 5.14 ERA, having previously allowed four runs in just four innings against the Padres. In contrast, the Padres’ Dylan Cease is making a calculated decision to pitch on short rest. He has held the Dodgers to four runs over 10.2 innings in the regular season, backed by a strong 2.61 ERA in his career matchups against them.
