Dodgers vs. Padres Predictions, Picks & Odds: NL Division Game 3, 10/8
Game 3 of the National League Divisional Series kicks off with a National League West battle between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres on Tuesday night
The Padres took game two of the series in a rout, winning 10-2 behind two homers from Fernando Tatis and seven strong innings from Yu Darvish.
Game 3 will see the series head to San Diego with Michael King making his series debut for the Padres while the Dodgers turn to Walker Buehler.
Before giving our Padres vs Dodgers predictions, lets take a look at the top storylines and pitching matchups.
San Diego Padres: Michael King's Ascension
The Padres sent Michael King to the mound for Game 1 of their NL Wild Card series against the Braves and he was dominant, tossing seven shutout innings while striking out 12.
The key piece to the Juan Soto trade to the Yankees, King went 13-9 with a 2.95 ERA and 201 strikeouts in his first full season as a starter.
King made four appearances against the Dodgers this season, going 2-0 with a 3.10 ERA while striking out 23 over 20.1 innings.
Another dominant outing tonight will cement King's ascension to “ace” status.
Los Angeles Dodgers: What Does Walker Buehler Have Left?
In 2021 Walker Buehler went 16-4 with a 2.47 ERA while striking out 212 over 207.2 innings.
During the 2020, postseason Buehler was dominant, going 2-0 over five starts with a 1.80 ERA.
The future was bright, until it wasn't. Arm troubles hit him in 2022 and he missed all of 2023. He came back this year and struggled, making just 16 starts while going 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA.
The lack of pitching depth for the Dodgers have forced them to use Buehler here in Game 3, on the road.
Buehler made two starts against the Padres this season, allowing four runs on 10 hits over 8.1 innings with just three strikeouts.
I guess we will see what Walker Buehler has left here tonight.
Dodgers vs Padres Odds, Spreads, Total & Betting Lines
We’re about to break down our Dodgers vs Padres predictions, but first, here are the current Mets vs Phillies odds, spreads, totals and betting lines from DraftKings Sportsbook:
Run Line
- Padres -1.5 (+145)
- Dodgers +1.5 (-175)
Money Line
- Padres: -142
- Dodgers: +120
Total
- 7.5 (Over -118/Under -102
Dodgers vs Padres Starting Pitcher & Lineup
Michael King, San Diego Padres
King went 13-9 with a 2.95 ERA and 201 strikeouts in his first full season as a starter. Against the Dodgers this season he made four appearances this season, going 2-0 with a 3.10 ERA while striking out 23 over 20.1 innings.
In Game 1 of the Padres Wild Card series against the Braves he dominated, tossing seven shutout innings with 12 strikeouts.
Walker Buehler, Los Angeles Dodgers
Buehler was not good this season, making just 16 starts while going 1-6 with a 5.38 ERA.
He faced the Padres twice, allowing four runs on 10 hits over 8.1 innings with just three strikeouts.
Dodgers vs Padres Predictions For NL Divisional Round Game 2
The difference on the mound tonight feels like will be the difference in the game as the Padres are sending one of their best pitchers in Michael Kings while the Dodgers send out on of their worst this season in Walker Buehler.
If both pitchers perform as expected, this one could be over pretty early with the Padres putting a crooked number on the board while King holds down this powerful Dodgers lineup.
Dodgers vs Padres: Padres ML (-142 on DraftKings)
I'm betting ON Michael King and ON the Padres offense to get it done here today.
Their offense is the hardest in baseball to strike out and Buehler has really struggled this season.
Conversely, Michael King has established himself as a top tier starter and a strong performance tonight will cement him as an “ace” in this league.
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Player News
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Taylor Ward hit a two-run homer in a loss to the Blue Jays on Thursday.
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Vladimir Guerrero Jr. picked up three hits and scored twice in an 8-5 win over the Angels on Thursday.
Guerrero also drew a walk. It gives the first baseman multiple hits in back-to-back games, and it’s the third time in May that he’s reached that mark. That’s helped raise his average from .268 to .295, and the only thing fantasy managers can be disappointed with is his .432 slugging percentage. That number should continue to climb as the season unfolds, but Vladdy Jr. has had some inconsistent seasons when it comes to power production.
Chad Green picked up his first save of 2025 with a scoreless ninth against the Angels on Thursday.
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Chris Bassitt allowed five runs — four earned — while working six-plus innings against the Angels on Thursday while picking up a win.
Bassitt allowed three runs over the first two innings on a pair of homers, but settled down over his next four frames. He came out to work the seventh, but ended up being charged for two more runs after leaving the contest. The 36-year-old veteran has forged a 3.35 ERA and outstanding 49/8 K/BB ratio over the first quarter of the season, but this wasn’t him at his best. He’ll get the Rays next week if the rotation order stays the same for Toronto.
José Soriano allowed three runs over five innings while not factoring in the decision Thursday against the Blue Jays.
Soriano left with a 4-3 lead, but it was erased quickly after his departure. The 26-year-old was not exactly dominant in his outing with eight hits allowed and four free passes, but he did strike out six to help balance things out a smidgen. Soriano takes an even ERA of 4.00 into a scheduled start against the Padres in San Diego on Tuesday. There should be better options for that one.