The MLB betting board for Thursday night is headlined by an NL West matchup between the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers.
The Dodgers are the reigning World Series champs and have the best odds of winning the Fall Classic this season but the Padres are one of the most exciting young teams in the majors and are looking to make the postseason for the second year in a row.
Here are our best free Padres vs. Dodgers picks and predictions for Thursday, April 22, with the first pitch at 10:10 p.m. ET.
Padres vs Dodgers odds
Odds via the Covers Line, an average comprised of odds from multiple sportsbooks.
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MLB sharp money and line movement report
By Patrick EversonLos Angeles hit FanDuel's odds board as a -194 favorite Wednesday evening and peaked at -200 overnight, then dropped as low as -168 late this afternoon. As of 7 p.m. ET, the Dodgers are -186 while attracting 81 percent of moneyline bets and 84 percent of moneyline cash. The total bounced between 8 and 7.5 multiple times today and is currently 7.5 (Over -118), with ticket count dead even and 54 percent of money on the Under.
Check out the full line movement for this gamePadres vs Dodgers betting preview
Starting pitchers
Ryan Weathers (1-0, 0.93 ERA): One of San Diego's top prospects, Weathers has earned his second career start after throwing 3 2-3 scoreless innings against the Dodgers last Friday. Weathers was named the Gatorade National Baseball Player of the Year in 2018 before getting selected seventh overall in the draft.
Walker Buehler (1-0, 2.00 ERA): Buehler is coming off a no-decision against the Padres last Friday, surrendering seven hits and a pair of runs through six innings of work. He looks poised for another strong year after a banged-up 2020 where he threw just 36 2-3 innings across eight starts. The 26-year-old made his first All-Star game in 2019, going 14-4 with a 3.26 ERA.
Weather
Be sure to monitor the gametime conditions with our MLB weather info.
Key injuries
Padres: Austin Nola C (Out), Matt Strahm RP (Out).
Dodgers: Mookie Betts RF (Probable), Gavin Lux SS (Questionable), Cody Bellinger RF (Out), Joe Kelly RP (Out).
Find our latest MLB injury reports.
Betting trend to know
The Padres are 1-8 in their last nine games versus a team with a winning record. Find more MLB betting trends for Padres vs. Dodgers.
Runline pick
These division rivals had a three-game set in San Diego last weekend and the Padres won 5-2 on Sunday after dropping the first two games in the series. The Padres followed it up with three straight losses to the Brewers and have now mustered just 1.6 runs per game over their last five contests.
San Diego ranks second-last in the majors in scoring with just 3.56 runs per game and could have a tough time getting on the scoreboard against the Dodgers and Buehler.
Buehler has been one of the most reliable pitchers in the majors since becoming a full-time starter for Los Angeles in 2018, going 24-8 with a 2.87 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP through 64 career starts.
Despite missing 2019 NL MVP Cody Bellinger due to a hairline fracture in his left fibula, the Dodgers have remained one of the best hitting teams in the majors thanks to sluggers like Corey Seager and Mookie Betts, as well as Justin Turner and Max Muncy. The Dodgers are fourth in the majors with 5.21 runs per game while ranking third in OPS at .778.
The Dodgers are simply the most dominant team in baseball, going 59-19 in their last 78 games overall. And despite the Padres' improved play in 2020, the Dodgers have still gone 7-1 in the last eight meetings, covering the runline six times during that span.
With the Dodgers having a clear-cut advantage at the plate and on the mound, back them on the runline again.
PREDICTION: L.A. Dodgers -1.5 (+120)
Over/Under pick
Weathers might be just 21 years old but his stuff is electric, throwing a fastball that tops out at 94-97 mph along with a slider and changeup. While he likely won't log too many innings tonight, the Padres also have a very strong bullpen.
San Diego relievers have pitched 87 2-3 innings through 20 games this season, posting a 2.67 ERA, 1.08 a WHIP, and have held opponents to a .220 batting average.
The Dodgers also have a solid bullpen, but most importantly for Under bettors tonight will be the play of Buehler. He has been a stud the last few years and has a history of dominating the Friars, going 4-0 with a 1.62 ERA and a 0.81 WHIP in six starts against San Diego.
The Padres were one of the best power-hitting teams in the majors last season but rank just 28th with 0.84 home runs per game this year. That dropoff in offensive production has made them an Under bettors dream, with San Diego going 5-14 O/U in its previous 19 games.
Los Angeles, meanwhile, is 5-2 to the Under in its last seven home games and the Under has also cashed in 11 of the previous 15 meetings between these teams in L.A.
PREDICTION: Under 7.5 (+100)
Padres vs Dodgers betting card
- Runline L.A. Dodgers -1.5 (+120)
- Under 7.5 (+100)
Picks made on 4/22/2021 at 11:00 p.m. ET
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