Free Picks: San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers

San Diego vs. Los Angeles has been one of the best rivalries in baseball to open the season. But the Padres are learning how quickly things can unravel in the National League. I look to take advantage of the Padres’ recent struggles when they take a visit to LA and Dodger Stadium.

If you’re living on the East Coast and not paying attention to every single Padres/Dodgers game this season, you’re missing out. The level of talent displayed from each franchise isn’t easily matched, which makes the San Diego and LA rivalry one of the best in the sport.

With that being said, the Padres have hit a bit of a rough patch as of late, which has me thinking about this free MLB prediction. The Dodgers have been hot and San Diego has been slumping, which has me confident that the Dodgers win at home on Thursday.

But instead of focusing on the Moneyline, I want to take this bet one step further. For this BetPicks prediction, I think focusing on the Run Line will be a great bet that has solid value and return.

One of the biggest reasons I think the Dodgers can cover on the Run Line is the probable pitchers.

Projected to start on the mound for the Padres is lefty Ryan Weathers. He has phenomenal stats this season, but the Dodgers rake against LHP. Even though he sports a 1-0 record with 10 strikeouts (and a tremendous 0.93 ERA), I don’t expect to see much success for Weathers against the Dodgers’ hitters.

Los Angeles are one of the best hitting teams in the sport. The blue and white absolutely demolish LHP. They are also at home, which is a factor in this game.

Opposite of Weathers will be RHP Walker Buehler. He is 1-0 on the year with a 2.00 ERA and recently faced the Padres last Friday. Buehler is a part of a starting rotation that is one of the best in the game.

Going back to my main point, LA sees the ball with precision against left-handed pitching. Justin Turner, Chris Taylor and Corey Seager all have multiple home runs against left-handed pitchers this season.

With so many talented right-handed hitters in the lineup, I think the Dodgers will hit Weathers all over the stadium.

Sprinkle in that Buehler is on the mound and I like the odds of LA covering on Thursday.

• The Dodgers rank 12^th in home runs against LHP.
• LA ranks 4^th in total runs.
• LA ranks 3^rd in OPS for NL teams.
• SDP has scored 31 runs on the road (tied for 19^th in MLB).