NL heavyweights close the MLB betting week out in this week’s installment of ESPN Sunday Night Baseball when Fernando Tatis Jr. and the San Diego Padres lock horns with Mookie Betts and the Los Angeles Dodgers for the seventh time in 2021. These NL West rivals partook in one of the more exciting series of the young baseball season last week at Petco where the reigning World Series champs managed to take two of three. This will be the finale of an extended four-game series with Joe Musgrove expected to square off against one of the Dodgers young phenom arms in Dustin May. Neither of these hurlers threw in last week’s series, so this will be the first time both offenses get to see their respective stuff. With that, online sportsbooks are likely to release another low O/U with last week’s totals averaging just 7.3 runs per game.
First pitch for this primetime showdown between the division rival San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers is scheduled for Sunday, April 25, 2021, at 7 p.m. ET from Dodgers Stadium. This week’s Sunday Night Baseball telecast will air live on ESPN. Bet on MLB odds at BookMaker.eu every day of the season.
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Odds Analysis
Though it’s only been 10 games, the Friars have failed to live up to preseason expectations. San Diego is a team many were bullish on in the offseason. Even so, they’ll enter Thursday night’s series opener having split their 20 overall played games which has amounted to a near $400 deficit overall. That said, it has made money for MLB bettors on the road where its won five of seven games for a $94 return on investment. As for the Dodgers, they continue to be a moneymaking machine. Regardless of linemakers installing them the favored side in all 18 of their played games, they’ve still managed to produce $349 worth of baseball betting profit. On top of that, they’re yet to drop a game within Dodgers Stadium having swept both series played against the Nationals and Rockies. San Diego tallying a win in the finale of last week’s series put an end to its seven-game losing streak to the Dodgers. LA’s also won each of the last four times it hosted this rivalry.
Probable Pitchers
Joe Musgrove: With the first no-hitter in San Diego Padres franchise history under his belt, it’s pretty safe to assume Musgrove has adapted to his new surroundings very quickly. The right-hander will enter his fifth start of 2021 the owner of a miniscule 1.04 ERA, 0.54 WHIP and .124 batting average against (BAA). Even so, it’s only amounted to a 2-2 overall record largely due to the fact that his offense has failed to show in a majority of his starts. The Padres have averaged just 4.3 runs per game through his turns on the bump, and a bulk of those runs were scored when San Diego blanked Arizona 7-0 in his season debut. Musgrove’s had issues against the Dodgers throughout his three career starts evidenced by a 5.40 ERA and .300 BAA. That said, his lone Chavez Ravine start saw him throw 6.2 innings of 1 ER ball. No bat on the Dodgers current roster has taken him yard, and Corey Seager is the only hitter to log an extra base hit off him.
Dustin May: LA’s young flame throwing carrot top impressed in his rookie campaign going 3-1 with a 2.57 ERA while allowing 45 hits through 56 innings of work. While he exhibited impeccable control in issuing 16 free passes, the youngster left much to be desired in the strikeout category after only tallying 44 of them. So far in 2021, May has dramatically improved upon his strikeout rates as he’s already logged 22 through 15.1 innings of work; that’s a 13.1 K/9 average people - that’s elite! Though he took a loss in his last start at Seattle, Dave Roberts still allowed him to throw 92 pitches in his five innings of work. Once he becomes more efficient with the pitches he throws per outing, look out! While LA lost three of his four made starts against the Padres last season, May was still a tough nut for the Friars to crack in pitching to a 2.94 ERA, 0.96 WHIP and .260 BAA. He owns a career 2.54 ERA and 1.17 WHIP through eight Dodgers Stadium starts.
Padres vs. Dodgers Prediction
All three of ESPN’s Sunday night telecasts combined for high scorers. While I’m never one to bet against a streak and always prefer betting into it, I can’t help myself in this pitching matchup. Tatis is still yet to get back on track since returning from his 10-day IL stint due to a shoulder injury. On top of that, Mookie Betts is ailing and Cody Bellinger hasn’t seen the field since April 3. Pair that with the two arms on the starting bump, and I’m expecting runs to be extremely tough to come by. Especially if the better arms in both bullpens aren’t utilized the night prior when Blake Snell squares off against Trevor Bauer. Provided Musgrove and May duel and the effective arms out of both pens are available, I suggest hitting the under for the first five and full game.
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