Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Diego Padres Picks, Prediction, Odds, and Line Movement for Friday June 26 2026
Use Code WWWC The Los Angeles Dodgers open a three-game National League West series against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park on Friday night, with Roki Sasaki facing former Dodgers right-hander Walker Buehler.
Both clubs enter after completing three-game sweeps, but Los Angeles has established a nine-game divisional advantage and won two of the first three meetings. This preview examines the latest odds, pitching matchup, game predictions, and top MLB player props for Friday’s Dodgers vs Padres game.
Best Available Odds for Dodgers vs Padres
- Best Moneyline Odds: Los Angeles Dodgers -145 (BetMGM), San Diego Padres +125 (ESPN BET)
- Best Spread Odds: Los Angeles Dodgers -1.5 (+120, BetMGM), San Diego Padres +1.5 (-142, FanDuel)
- Best Total Odds: Over 7.5 (-110, BetMGM), Under 7.5 (-105, BetRivers)
Game Info
- Date: Friday, June 26, 2026
- Time: 9:45 PM EDT
- Location: Petco Park, San Diego, California
- TV: Apple TV
Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Diego Padres Preview
The Los Angeles Dodgers enter Friday at 52-29 after completing a three-game road sweep of the Minnesota Twins. Los Angeles won Wednesday’s finale 4-3 and has earned seven victories across its last nine games.
Shohei Ohtani contributed on both sides Wednesday, completing six innings on the mound before finishing with two hits, one run, and one RBI at the plate. Mookie Betts added three hits and recorded the 300th home run of his major-league career.
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Freddie Freeman also completed a productive series. He collected three hits and two doubles during Tuesday’s 12-3 victory and enters Friday on a four-game hitting streak.
The Dodgers produced 17 hits during Tuesday’s blowout and demonstrated that their offense does not need to depend exclusively on home runs. Every starter recorded at least one hit, while Los Angeles consistently extended innings through contact and extra-base production.
The season-long numbers confirm the lineup’s depth. Los Angeles is batting approximately .262 with a .345 on-base percentage and .438 slugging percentage. The Dodgers average 5.22 runs per game and rank near the top of baseball in home runs.
Ohtani remains the lineup’s most dangerous hitter. He enters batting .295 with a .414 on-base percentage, .549 slugging percentage, 17 home runs, and 46 RBIs.
His plate discipline creates an especially difficult matchup for Buehler. The Padres starter has limited home runs effectively but does not generate enough swings and misses to consistently overpower the strongest portion of the Dodgers order.
Ohtani can force Buehler into the strike zone before Freeman, Betts, Max Muncy, or Andy Pages receives an opportunity with runners aboard. His speed also allows him to create additional scoring chances without an extra-base hit.
Freeman enters batting .282 with a .372 on-base percentage and .486 slugging percentage. He leads Los Angeles with 33 extra-base hits and has recorded at least one hit in four consecutive games.
The left-handed first baseman receives the platoon advantage against Buehler. He can attack pitches on the outer half toward left-center field or pull mistakes into the right-field corner.
Betts has shown improved form after an inconsistent opening portion of the season. His three-hit performance against Minnesota included a home run and double, demonstrating that his power is beginning to return.
Pages and Muncy supply additional middle-order power. Pages enters with 15 home runs and a .474 slugging percentage, while Muncy has produced 16 homers and a .508 slugging mark.
Los Angeles may again be without Kyle Tucker, who is day-to-day with lower-back spasms. Tucker recently resumed indoor swings but remained under evaluation entering the San Diego series.
Will Smith remains on the injured list with neck stiffness and will not travel during the current road trip. Dalton Rushing and Chuckie Robinson must continue handling the catching duties.
Rushing recently returned after undergoing concussion evaluation, but he went hitless with three strikeouts Wednesday. His availability gives the Dodgers more offensive upside than Robinson, although Smith’s absence remains meaningful.
Teoscar Hernández is also unavailable with a hamstring strain. He has started a rehabilitation assignment and could return during the following series, but he will not provide his normal middle-order power Friday.
Those injuries have increased the responsibility placed on Alex Call, Ryan Ward, Alex Freeland, Tommy Edman, Miguel Rojas, and the remaining depth hitters. Los Angeles has continued winning because its stars and replacement players have both contributed.
Edman recently returned from the injured list and gives the Dodgers additional speed, defensive flexibility, and contact ability. Call homered during Tuesday’s victory and has performed well when inserted into the outfield.
The Dodgers also possess a fully rested bullpen after Thursday’s off-day. Los Angeles received length from its starters throughout the Minnesota series, reducing the workload required from the relief staff.
Blake Treinen recently joined the injured list with elbow inflammation, while Edwin DĂaz, Evan Phillips, Brusdar Graterol, and several other relievers remain unavailable.
The active bullpen has still produced strong results during the past two weeks. The Dodgers should have their preferred late-inning options available if Sasaki can complete five or six innings.
The San Diego Padres enter at 42-37 after sweeping the Atlanta Braves at Petco Park. San Diego won the opener 1-0, earned a 7-6 extra-inning victory Tuesday, and completed the sweep with a 5-2 win Wednesday.
The Padres have won three straight and four of their last five games. The sweep provided an important response after a disappointing road series against Texas.
Ty France led the offense Wednesday with a solo home run, double, two runs, and two RBIs. Samad Taylor added a two-run single during the sixth inning and continued his productive run near the top of the order.
Taylor has become an important replacement-level success story. He enters batting above .370 in limited opportunities and has produced hits, stolen bases, bunts, and quality plate appearances.
Fernando Tatis Jr. remains San Diego’s primary offensive catalyst. He reached base Wednesday, stole a base, and helped create a run through aggressive baserunning.
Tatis has not produced his expected power totals, but he remains capable of changing the game through contact, speed, and defense. Sasaki must avoid giving him free baserunners through walks.
Manny Machado supplies San Diego’s greatest established power threat. His 14 home runs lead the active lineup, including the only run during Monday’s 1-0 victory over Atlanta.
Machado also delivered the walk-off home run Tuesday. His recent performance has improved after a slow opening portion of the season.
Jackson Merrill gives the Padres another dangerous left-handed hitter, although his season-long production has declined. Merrill enters with a batting average close to .210 and an on-base percentage below .280.
Sasaki’s splitter presents a difficult matchup for Merrill. San Diego has struggled badly against splitters this season, particularly when pitchers locate the offering below the strike zone.
Gavin Sheets provides another left-handed power option. He enters with 12 home runs and can punish Sasaki’s fastball whenever the right-hander falls behind in the count.
Xander Bogaerts, France, Taylor, Sung-Mun Song, Miguel Andújar, and the available catchers complete a lineup that has produced occasional strong performances but remains one of baseball’s weakest statistical offenses.
San Diego is batting approximately .220 with a .294 on-base percentage and .364 slugging percentage. The Padres average only 3.91 runs per game, placing them last in the majors.
The club’s record has been built more through pitching, defense, and success in close games than sustained offensive production. San Diego is 23-7 when preventing the opponent from hitting a home run.
That trend matters against Los Angeles. The Dodgers rank among baseball’s leading power teams, making Buehler’s ability to keep the ball inside Petco Park central to San Diego’s upset chances.
The Padres are also missing several regulars. RamĂłn Laureano underwent hip surgery and is expected to miss most or all of the remainder of the season.
Jake Cronenworth remains on the concussion injured list. His absence removes a versatile left-handed hitter and experienced infielder from the middle of the order.
Luis Campusano is recovering from a fractured toe, while starting pitchers Lucas Giolito, Joe Musgrove, Nick Pivetta, and Matt Waldron remain unavailable.
Jeremiah Estrada is also sidelined with knee inflammation. His absence removes another high-strikeout option from the bullpen.
San Diego’s remaining relief group has performed well despite the injuries. Mason Miller, Jason Adam, Adrian Morejon, Wandy Peralta, David Morgan, and the other available pitchers give the Padres several late-inning options.
The bullpen was forced to record 28 outs during Tuesday’s extra-inning victory. JP Sears provided 5.2 innings Wednesday, allowing San Diego to use only Morgan, Peralta, and Adam.
Thursday’s off-day should restore the full group. Miller did not pitch Wednesday and should be available for the ninth inning if San Diego carries a lead.
Season Series
Los Angeles won two of three games during the first series at Petco Park in May. San Diego earned a 1-0 victory in the opener before the Dodgers responded with wins of 5-4 and 4-0.
The three games produced only 14 combined runs. None generated more than nine, and two finished with four total runs or fewer.
Los Angeles’s lineup is less complete entering the rematch because Smith and Hernández are unavailable, with Tucker also questionable. San Diego is similarly missing Cronenworth and Laureano.
The Dodgers still possess the deeper active lineup. San Diego’s strongest argument comes from Buehler’s current form, Petco Park’s dimensions, and a rested bullpen capable of keeping a close game within one run.
Pitching Matchup
The Dodgers will start right-hander Roki Sasaki, who enters at 3-4 with a 4.76 ERA, 1.29 WHIP, and 70 strikeouts across 68 innings.
Sasaki’s full-season results have been inconsistent, but his recent pitch quality has shown significant improvement. His fastball velocity has returned, while his splitter has again become an elite swing-and-miss offering.
The right-hander delivered the best start of his major-league career against the Angels on June 5. Sasaki completed seven scoreless innings, allowed two hits, and recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts.
His fastball reached 100.4 mph, and he threw 72 of 98 pitches for strikes. The performance demonstrated the ceiling that made him one of baseball’s most highly regarded international signings.
Sasaki’s road results remain the greatest concern. He owns a road ERA above 6.00 and has allowed approximately 1.7 home runs per nine innings away from Dodger Stadium.
His worst recent road performance came against the Chicago White Sox, who scored seven earned runs. When Sasaki loses fastball command, hitters can force him into predictable counts and prevent him from using the splitter as a finishing pitch.
The Padres may be a better matchup than those road splits suggest. San Diego ranks last in batting average and on-base percentage and has been one of baseball’s weakest lineups against splitters.
Sasaki can attack Tatis, Machado, Bogaerts, France, and Taylor with velocity before moving the splitter beneath the strike zone. Merrill and Sheets receive the platoon advantage but must avoid chasing that same pitch.
Walks remain a potential problem. San Diego has enough speed to turn a free pass into a scoring opportunity through stolen bases, hit-and-run plays, and productive outs.
Sasaki has recorded approximately 9.3 strikeouts per nine innings. He needs to generate enough efficient outs to remain in the game beyond the fifth inning.
Los Angeles has a rested bullpen behind him, reducing the need to force a third trip through the order if his command begins deteriorating. Five or six strong innings would be sufficient for the Dodgers to move into their preferred relief structure.
The Padres counter with right-hander Walker Buehler, who enters at 4-3 with a 3.96 ERA, 1.32 WHIP, and 65 strikeouts across 72.2 innings.
Buehler has allowed one run in each of his last four starts. He owns a 2.92 ERA across his last seven appearances and has not surrendered more than three earned runs in eight consecutive outings.
The former Dodgers starter allowed one run across 5.1 innings against Texas in his latest appearance. He struck out seven and walked none while helping San Diego earn a 6-4 extra-inning victory.
Buehler’s greatest improvement has come through home-run prevention. He has allowed approximately 0.6 home runs per nine innings and only one homer across his last six starts.
That skill becomes especially important against Los Angeles. Ohtani, Freeman, Betts, Muncy, Pages, Rushing, and Ward can all turn one elevated pitch into immediate scoring.
Buehler is no longer overpowering hitters with the same velocity he possessed during his first Dodgers tenure. His current success depends more on sequencing, command, changing eye levels, and keeping hitters from consistently lifting the ball.
The underlying contact metrics create some concern. Buehler ranks poorly in expected batting average and whiff rate, suggesting opponents have not always converted their quality of contact into the expected results.
Los Angeles is the most difficult lineup he has faced during his recent run. The Dodgers lead the National League in slugging and enter with several patient hitters capable of extending at-bats.
Buehler must particularly avoid walks ahead of Freeman and Muncy. The two left-handed hitters can punish pitches leaking over the inner half or drive outside offerings toward the opposite field.
Smith, Hernández, and potentially Tucker being unavailable makes the assignment more manageable. San Diego can pitch more aggressively toward the lower portion of the order than it could against a fully healthy Dodgers lineup.
Buehler has averaged approximately 4.3 strikeouts per appearance. His 4.5-strikeout prop is therefore closely aligned with his season average, although his recent seven-strikeout outing demonstrates increased upside.
San Diego should allow him to work through at least five innings if the game remains close. The rested bullpen gives manager Craig Stammen the option to remove Buehler before facing Ohtani and Freeman for a third time.
Game Thesis: Both clubs enter in strong form, but the matchup points toward a lower-scoring game. Buehler has allowed one run in four consecutive starts and has limited home runs throughout the season. Sasaki remains volatile on the road, but his splitter presents a favourable matchup against baseball’s lowest-scoring offense. Petco Park, two rested bullpens, and missing position players on both sides further support the Under. Los Angeles owns the deeper lineup and superior overall team profile, making the Dodgers the preferred moneyline side. San Diego +1.5 remains the more appealing spread selection because the first three meetings were close and low scoring. A projected 4-2 Dodgers victory supports Under 7.5, Los Angeles on the moneyline, and San Diego on the run line.
Best Bet - Total Pick: Under 7.5 (-105)
Under 7.5 is the strongest wager because the market has not fully accounted for the combination of Buehler’s recent form, San Diego’s offensive limitations, and two rested bullpens.
Buehler has allowed one run in four consecutive starts. He has also prevented opponents from hitting home runs, which is the most important requirement against Los Angeles.
The Dodgers lead the National League in slugging, but their lineup is not operating at full strength. Smith and Hernández remain unavailable, while Tucker is questionable with back spasms.
Sasaki creates more risk because of his 6.19 road ERA. He has struggled to prevent home runs away from Dodger Stadium and allowed seven earned runs during a recent road appearance against Chicago.
San Diego is not well positioned to exploit that volatility. The Padres rank last in batting average, on-base percentage, and scoring while also struggling against Sasaki’s best pitch.
The Padres have averaged only 3.5 runs since the previous series against Los Angeles. Their recent sweep of Atlanta featured scores of 1-0, 7-6, and 5-2, with the middle game requiring extra innings.
Both bullpens have produced ERAs below 3.00 during the past two weeks. Thursday’s off-day also makes the preferred relievers available on each side.
The first three meetings produced five, nine, and four total runs. A similar divisional game controlled by the starters and bullpens should finish near six or seven.
A projected 4-2 Dodgers victory remains safely below 7.5.
Moneyline Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers (-145)
Los Angeles is the preferred moneyline selection because the Dodgers own major advantages in offensive production, road performance, and overall run differential.
The Dodgers are 26-15 away from home, the best road record in baseball. San Diego is only three games above .500 at Petco Park despite its recent sweep.
Los Angeles averages 5.22 runs, compared with San Diego’s 3.91. The Dodgers also lead the majors in batting average and on-base percentage while ranking near the top in home runs.
Buehler can keep the game close, but he faces a more difficult lineup than Sasaki. Ohtani, Freeman, Betts, Muncy, and Pages create pressure throughout the first five positions.
Sasaki’s road volatility prevents the Dodgers from becoming an overwhelming selection. Tatis, Machado, Merrill, Sheets, and France can produce damage if he loses command.
The Padres also own the bullpen depth necessary to win a close game. Miller, Morejon, Adam, and Peralta can protect a narrow advantage once Buehler departs.
Los Angeles still has the more dependable path through nine innings. The Dodgers won two of three during the first series and have opened a nine-game divisional lead since that meeting.
The -145 price is reasonable for the stronger team in a game projected closer to -160. A 4-2 Los Angeles victory supports the moneyline.
Top Player Prop Picks for Dodgers vs Padres
Roki Sasaki Over 5.5 Strikeouts (+118, FanDuel): Sasaki enters averaging 5.4 strikeouts per start and approximately 9.3 per nine innings. He recorded a career-high 10 strikeouts across seven scoreless innings against the Angels earlier this month and has shown improved fastball velocity and splitter movement during his recent starts. San Diego ranks last in several offensive categories and has performed poorly against splitters. Merrill, Sheets, Bogaerts, France, and the lower portion of the order provide enough swing-and-miss opportunities for Sasaki to reach six strikeouts across five or six innings. The plus-money price compensates for the risk created by his road performance.
Walker Buehler Over 4.5 Strikeouts (+110, FanDuel): Buehler recorded seven strikeouts against Texas in his latest start and five against Baltimore during the preceding appearance. He enters averaging 4.3 strikeouts per start, placing the line close to his season baseline. Los Angeles possesses a strong offense, but Muncy, Pages, Rushing, Ward, Freeland, and the lower portion of the order all carry meaningful strikeout risk. Buehler should receive enough workload to face approximately 22 to 25 hitters if he continues limiting runs. Five strikeouts at plus money offers value despite the difficulty of the opponent.
Freddie Freeman Over 1.5 Total Bases (+123): Freeman enters on a four-game hitting streak and is batting .389 with two doubles and a home run across his last five games. He receives the platoon advantage against Buehler and should bat between Ohtani and Betts, creating multiple opportunities with runners on base. Buehler has limited home runs, but his low whiff rate and weak expected batting-average metrics indicate that hitters continue putting quality contact into play. Freeman can clear this line with one double or two singles, making the plus-money total-bases market considerably more attractive than laying more than -200 on his basic hit prop.
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