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San Diego Padres at Los Angeles Dodgers

By JR·2 min read
San Diego PadresSD(88-70)
Los Angeles DodgersLAD(97-61)
AT
7:10 PM PT

TLDR: The Padres got shut out 7-0 in the opener, then hit back 5-1 to move into sole possession of the top NL wild-card spot. The finale at Dodger Stadium decides the set, and only one of these clubs still has something to play for in the standings.

FRI SEP 25, 7:10 PM
Spread
WIN
Total
Padres
(88-70)
WLWWW
Dodgers
(97-61)
LWWWW

San Diego and Los Angeles split the first 2 games of this set, and the finale matches Nick Pivetta, sharp since his IL return, against Tyler Glasnow, who is coming off a 10-strikeout start. The Dodgers have already clinched the NL West and are managing Glasnow and a short-handed bullpen with October in mind, while the Padres are still pushing for a clinch and wild-card seeding. Motivation and how long each starter goes are likely to decide it.

Padres
  • Pivetta: 3 runs over 14 innings since IL return
  • Still playing for clinch and wild-card seeding
  • Won 4 of last 5, including 5-1 here
  • Sheets and Andujar still on the IL
  • Shut out 7-0 in the series opener
Dodgers
  • Glasnow coming off season-high 10 strikeouts
  • Swept 3 from the Giants before this set
  • NL West clinched, little left to play for
  • Bullpen without Henriquez, Klein, Graterol, Casparius
  • Glasnow being prepped for postseason relief role

Nick Pivetta (3-2, 3.30) gets the ball for San Diego, and he's been exactly what the Padres needed since coming back from a right flexor strain. He's allowed 3 runs over 14 innings across starts against the Nationals, Giants and Marlins. Tyler Glasnow (5-1, 3.46) goes for Los Angeles off a season-high 10 strikeouts against the Giants, the kind of outing that shows why the Dodgers keep talking about him as a weapon for October.

Nick Pivetta
Nick Pivetta
(3-2)·3.30 ERA
Sep 18 vs Marlins
W
5.0IP
1ER
4K
1BB
76P
09/24 Lineup
Tyler Glasnow
Tyler Glasnow
(5-1)·3.46 ERA
Sep 18 vs Giants
W
6.0IP
2ER
10K
2BB
98P
09/24 Lineup

That October talk is the context for tonight. The Dodgers have already locked up the NL West, and Glasnow lines up as the 4th starter in a playoff rotation, with Dave Roberts floating him as a multi-inning relief option early in a series. Glasnow has been openly talking about how he'd handle the bullpen role. A September start for a pitcher being lined up for a different job in 2 weeks doesn't usually go deep, and that puts more innings on a Dodgers bullpen already missing Edgardo Henriquez, Will Klein, Brusdar Graterol and Ben Casparius.

San Diego is in a different spot. As of Wednesday night the Padres needed 1 win or 1 Arizona loss to clinch a franchise-record 3rd straight postseason berth, and the win that set this up also put them alone at the top of the wild-card race. So one team is jockeying for a seed and the other is managing a roster for a division series. First pitch is 7:10 PM PT, with 69 degrees and clouds in the forecast and not much wind.

Both clubs came into the set hot. The Padres won their 3 games against Miami and the Dodgers won their 3 against San Francisco before the teams split the first 2 here. Neither game was close: LA won the opener by 7, San Diego won the second by 4, and neither game got past 7 total runs.

San Diego Padres
(88-70)
09/23W@Dodgers5-1
09/22L@Dodgers0-7
09/20WvsMarlins7-3
09/19WvsMarlins7-6
09/18WvsMarlins8-2
Los Angeles Dodgers
(97-61)
09/23LvsPadres1-5
09/22WvsPadres7-0
09/20WvsGiants3-1
09/19WvsGiants10-4
09/18WvsGiants8-2

The Padres' lineup is still thinner than the one they'd want in October. Gavin Sheets and Miguel Andujar both took live at-bats Monday but remain on the IL, and Luis Rengifo and Ramon Laureano are out longer term. San Diego's rotation depth is thin too, with Joe Musgrove and Lucas Giolito both on the 60-day list and no clear return timelines. That makes Pivetta's run since coming back even more important for them.

San Diego Padres
(8)
  • 10-Day-ILNewMiguel Andujar (DH) — Andujar (wrist) took live at-bats at Petco Park on Monday.09/24
  • 10-Day-ILNewGavin Sheets (1B) — Sheets (foot) took part in live batting practice Monday.09/24
  • 15-Day-ILJeremiah Estrada (RP) — Estrada (shoulder) hadn't resumed throwing as of Sept. 8, and he may not be able to return from the injured list before the end of the campaign.09/12
  • 60-Day-ILNewJoe Musgrove (SP) — Musgrove (elbow) has been regularly playing catch, but the timeline for a potential return to action remains unclear.09/24
  • 60-Day-ILRamon Laureano (LF) — Laureano (hip) has progressed to swinging off a tee and playing catch, but he isn't close to playing in games.09/12
  • 60-Day-ILLuis Rengifo (LF) — The Padres placed Rengifo (knee) on the 60-day injured list Tuesday.09/01
  • 60-Day-ILLucas Giolito (SP) — Giolito (elbow) has been throwing at the Padres' team complex in Arizona, but his timeline to return is unclear.08/24
  • 60-Day-ILBryan Hoeing (RP) — The Padres transferred Hoeing (elbow) from the 15-day injured list to the 60-day IL on Wednesday.05/08
Los Angeles Dodgers
(9)
  • Day-To-DayBlake Snell (SP) — Snell (groin) is expected to start Saturday's game against the Giants.09/22
  • 10-Day-ILDalton Rushing (C) — Rushing (elbow) is continuing to work his way through a hitting progression with the hope of returning from the 10-day injured list before the end of the season.09/17
  • 15-Day-ILEdgardo Henriquez (RP) — Henriquez has a "low-grade" back strain, and the team is "hopeful" the reliever will be back for the postseason.09/16
  • 60-Day-ILWill Klein (RP) — Klein (elbow) threw live batting practice Tuesday.09/22
  • 60-Day-ILEric Lauer (SP) — The Dodgers transferred Lauer (elbow) to the 60-day injured list Friday.09/11
  • 60-Day-ILGavin Stone (SP) — Stone (shoulder/biceps) resumed his rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday, allowing three runs over two-thirds of an inning.09/10
  • 60-Day-ILJake Cousins (RP) — Cousins (elbow) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City on Wednesday, striking out one and issuing one walk in a scoreless frame.09/03
  • 60-Day-ILBen Casparius (RP) — Casparius (shoulder) experienced arm fatigue while on a minor-league rehab assignment and has been shut down from throwing.09/02
  • 60-Day-ILBrusdar Graterol (RP) — Graterol (shoulder) underwent surgery recently for a back injury he suffered while on a rehab assignment.06/01

The Dodgers' bigger October question is pitching health, and the news there is trending the right way. Blake Snell is expected to start Saturday against the Giants after a groin issue, and Klein has thrown live BP. None of that helps tonight, though. What matters tonight is how long Glasnow goes and who follows him.

Live Odds

Padres And Dodgers Settle The Series Behind Pivetta And Glasnow | Polymarket Odds · Barstool Bush