Another highly-anticipated match in the MLB is set to put a huge smile on your face, when the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres kick off their respective 2016 campaigns in this first game of a three-game series.
The Dodgers will send a very familiar face in Clayton Kershaw on the mound, while the Padres counter with Tyson Ross, who’ll be making his first career start in a season-opener. And of course, expect a jam-packed Petco Park to make a lot of noise in cheering for their beloved team. But will that be enough to distract Kershaw and the Dodgers from drawing first blood?
Read on below for a closer look at this NL West Division showdown. Meanwhile, you might as well check our other previews of the Houston Astros vs. New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners vs. Texas Rangers.
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Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres Preview
Where: PETCO Park, San Diego, CA
When: Monday, April 4, 2016, 7:05 PM ET
Line: Los Angeles Dodgers (-180) vs. San Diego Padres (+160); total: 5.5 – view all MLB lines
TV Broadcast: ESPN
Betting on the Los Angeles Dodgers (0-0)
Clayton Kershaw is set to make his sixth-consecutive opening-day start, which makes him the first Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher to do so since Don Sutton, who compiled seven.
The chances of that from happening are looking real good for Kershaw. He’s gotten the best out of the Padres throughout 27 career starts, owning a 12-6 record, a 2.25 ERA and a .205 opponents’ batting average. Kershaw also seems to be in his best form already, as he posted a staggering 1.96 ERA across six Spring Training starts.
Howver, the offense behind Kershaw is going to be quite vulnerable since three key players in catcher Yasmani Grandal, second baseman Howie Kendrick and left-fielder Andre Ethier are all dealing with injuries.
Fortunately for Dodgers skipper Dave Roberts, who’s making his managerial debut later as well, he can still lean on the healthy trio of veterans in Adrian Gonzalez, Yasiel Puig and Justin Turner to provide some hits and runs at the plate.
Gonzalez led the team in batting average (.275), homers (28), RBIs (90), OBP (.350) and hits (157) in 2015. Puig and Turner, meanwhile, combined for 98 RBIs and 27 home runs in the same year, while also carrying a .255 and .294 batting average respectively.
Los Angeles has won six of its previous 10 games on the road.
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Betting on the San Diego Padres (0-0)
The expectations remain relatively low for the San Diego Padres this season. They haven’t made the playoffs since 2006 and are bound for another year of rebuilding. But even so, their fan base can look forward to their strong starting rotation that’s headlined by Tyson Ross, who’ll be taking the mound in this season-opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Ross went 10-12 with a 3.26 ERA and 1.31 WHIP through a career-high of 33 starts in 2015. There’s no question that this year could be the best opportunity for him to finally develop into a legitimate ace pitcher that the Padres have been patiently waiting for.
Ross can start doing so by putting on a good performance and hopefully come out with a win versus the Dodgers. He has yet to notch his first win opposite their division rivals, but boasts an ERA of 2.67 across 10 career games (eight starts) in this matchup.
Over on offense, Yangervis Solarte and Matt Kemp will look to provide the team some timely hits at the plate. The two were arguably the most consistent hitters last season, posting batting averages of .270 and .265 respectively.
Kemp, in particular, also led the Padres in with 100 RBIs and 158 hits. He should be able to provide some headaches to the Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw. Kemp boasts a lifetime batting average of .400 against the southpaw.
It’ll also be worth keeping a close eye on the Padres’ offseason-acquisition, Alexei Ramirez. The veteran shortstop had a .249 batting average with 10 homers and 62 RBIs last season as a member of the White Sox.
San Diego has lost seven of its last 10 meetings with the Dodgers. Moreover, the Padres are 0-5 in Ross’ past five starts.
Writer’s Prediction
Los Angeles (-180) wins this one, 4-1.
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