San Diego Padres (77-65) -150, o/u 7 at Los Angeles Dodgers (75-68), 10:10 pm Eastern Tuesday
by Zman of Predictem.com
A couple of division rivals looking to chase down playoffs spots hook up when the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers tip off a three-game series Tuesday night at Dodger Stadium.
San Diego, which just lost two of three games in Colorado to the Rockies, sits in second place in the National League's West Division, 3 ½ games behind the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks. The Padres also lead the NL wild-card race by a game and a half over the Philadelphia Phillies.
Los Angeles, which just dropped two of three games in San Francisco to the Giants, occupies third place in the NL West, six games back of Arizona, and third place in the wild-card race, 2 ½ games behind San Diego.
The Padres lead the season series with the Dodgers this year nine games to six, with the o/u going 9-6.
San Diego is 37-34 on the road this season, while L.A. is 37-32 at home.
Jake Peavy (16-6, 2.43), the Major League leader in ERA and the NL leader in strikeouts, gets the start in Tuesday's series opener for the Padres against newly-acquired Esteban Loaiza (1-0, 3.86) for the Dodgers.
Peavy could win the NL Cy Young award this season, but he's coming off his worst start of the year. Peavy, pitching on three days rest six days ago, allowed eight ER and 10 baserunners (hits + walks) in just four IP of a 9-6 San Diego loss at Arizona.
The Padres are 20-9 in Peavy's starts this year, the o/u 12-16.
Peavy has started seven games vs. Los Angeles over the past two seasons, giving up 12 ER and 46 baserunners in 46 2/3 IP. San Diego is 6-1 in those starts.
Loaiza will be making his second start for the Dodgers since being claimed off waivers two weeks ago. In his first start for L.A., Loaiza gave up three ER and 10 baserunners in seven IP of an 11-3 Dodgers win over the Cubs eight days ago.
Loaiza hasn't started a game vs. the Padres since he was a member of the Washington Nationals in 2005.
San Diego owns a .320 team OBP this season, which ranks third-worst in the majors, and is averaging 4.5 runs per game.
The Dodgers rank 12th with their .336 team OBP, and are averaging 4.5 RPG.
The Padres bullpen, one of the best in the league, has only been average lately, allowing 11 ER and 26 baserunners over its last 19 IP.
The Los Angeles pen has given up eight ER and 18 baserunners in its last 12 IP.
The o/u is 68-70 in San Diego games this year, 74-64 in Dodgers games, and 40-25 at Dodger Stadium.
The Predictem Pick: We look for Jake Peavy to continue his dominance vs. the Dodgers. The line opened at -150 and has moved down to -145 at most sportsbooks.
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