The NLDS returns to Los Angeles for a winner-take-all Game 5.
The pregame narrative: The Los Angeles Dodgers offence scored eight runs on Wednesday but with Yu Darvish on the mound, I’m taking the under. I’m also fading superstar Shohei Ohtani.
Check out my Padres vs. Dodgers picks for Game 5 of their NLDS matchup on Oct. 11.
Padres vs. Dodgers picks
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Best Bet: Under 8 runs (-117)
It is unclear who will be starting for L.A. but manager Dave Roberts says the door is open to many options.
Both Yoshinobu Yamamoto and Jack Flaherty struggled in their starts against the Padres so a bullpen game may actually be the best option. After all, that approach earned the Dodgers an 8-0 victory in Game 4.
Yamamoto wouldn’t be a bad option either as the Japanese pitcher gave up two or fewer runs in 12 of 18 starts this season.
What we do know is that Yu Darvish gets the start for San Diego and he owns the Dodgers. In Game 2, Darvish worked seven innings and gave up three hits resulting in one earned run.
Key stat: In a hefty 266 at-bats, L.A.’s lineup has 53 hits (.199 batting average) with 72 strikeouts vs. Darvish.
Quick picks
Ohtani under 0.5 runs (+115): Fading the soon-to-be NL MVP seems like a bold move but this is once again about Darvish.
Ohtani has one hit in eight at-bats with three Ks against the righty. He was held hitless in four appearances in Darvish’s first start of the series and it’s hard to see the Dodgers slugger turning things around in a high-pressure situation.
Even if the superstar were to find himself in scoring position, there’s no guarantee his teammates can drive him home with their equally unproductive past against Darvish.
Teammates Mookie Betts, Freddie Freeman and Teoscar Hernandez are a combined 22-of-93 off Darvish (.237 BA).
Ohtani failed to score a run in all four games that Darvish started against L.A. this season.
Picks made at 2:52 p.m. ET 10/10/2024.
Spencer is a true sports junkie. A graduate of the Sports Journalism program at Centennial College, he first joined NorthStar Gaming as an intern in 2023. He is now a contributing writer. He loves finding the edge to bet on in all sports but has a deep passion for the NBA and UFC. Previous stops include Sportsnet.