The contentious National League Division Series between San Diego and Los Angeles comes down to a winner-takes-all Game 5 clash in L.A. on Friday night.
ODDS AND TRENDS
The Dodgers are consensus 1.5-run favorites at home. The Padres have drawn 62 percent of the spread-line money wagered at BetRivers, while Los Angeles’ -143 moneyline has been backed by 76 percent of the money.
The 7.5 Over/Under total runs line at the book has seen the Over supported by 64 percent of the money.
PROP PICK
Shohei Ohtani Or Fernando Tatis Home Run (+120 at DraftKings): One of the two biggest stars going deep at least once has been among the most popular player props at the book. Ohtani’s lone homer in the series came back in Game 1, while Tatis followed up his two-homer effort in Game 2 with another in Game 3, meaning one of the two has gone deep in all but one game of the series.
THE NEWS
San Diego will send Game 2 winner Yu Darvish to the mound, while the Dodgers will counter with Game 1 starter Yoshinobu Yamamoto for a historic matchup. It marks the first game in major league postseason history between two Japanese-born starting pitchers.
Los Angeles might have been tempted to go with another bullpen game in hopes of matching the eight-pitcher shutout it pulled off in Game 4. Not up for debate is the need for the explosive offense shown in Game 4, when Mookie Betts, Will Smith and Gavin Lux hit home runs.
After he entered Game 3 on an 0-for-22 playoff downturn, Betts has a home run in the first inning of the past two games. He added an RBI single in the second inning of Game 4, immediately after Ohtani delivered his own RBI single.
So, how did Betts emerge from a playoff slump that appeared to be as much mental as it was physical?
“Hit (and) kept hitting,” he said. “That’s all I’ve been doing. That’s what I know. I work. I’m not trying to win the game for us. We got plenty of guys that can win games for us. I just want to do my part in the team. And that’s all I’ve been focused on.”
Darvish was stellar in Sunday’s 10-2 win at Los Angeles, giving up one run on three hits over seven innings. He changed speeds to tie countryman Ohtani in knots, with the Dodgers star going 0-for-4 with two strikeouts.
The performance has Darvish’s teammates feeling good about their Game 5 prospects.
“I’m fully confident because he has already proven himself,” San Diego star Fernando Tatis Jr. said. “He has proven himself for the last 18 years, probably, pitching in baseball. He has all my confidence playing behind him and we’re ready to go.”
Said the Padres’ Manny Machado: “We have the right guy on the mound and we have confidence with what he’s done in the past, (and will do) in the future.”
Darvish is no stranger to elimination games at Dodger Stadium. He was Los Angeles’ starting pitcher in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series, but was roughed up for five runs (four earned) over 1 2/3 innings and the Houston Astros won the title with a 5-1 victory.
Yamamoto did not figure in the decision in the series opener after allowing five earned runs in three innings. The Dodgers rallied for a 7-5 win.
INJURY REPORT
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts believes first baseman Freddie Freeman likely will be back in the starting lineup Friday after sitting out Game 4 due to a right ankle injury. The status of shortstop Miguel Rojas, who left the win Wednesday due to an adductor strain, isn’t as optimistic for the Dodgers.
“I don’t see Miggy available for Game 5,” Roberts said Thursday. “Maybe to pinch hit. I think Freddie is going to be in there. With two days off, he didn’t try to get ready yesterday. He’s feeling better today with treatment. So I just feel like tomorrow he’ll be in there.”
With Rojas likely out, Roberts said Tommy Edman will play shortstop but he didn’t disclose whom he plans to play in center field.
KEY STAT
The Dodgers had 52 home wins during the regular season, second most in baseball. The Padres’ 48 road victories led the NL.
UP NEXT
The winner of Friday’s game will host the Mets in Game 1 of the National League Championship Series on Sunday.
PREDICTION
Despite dealing with a constant string of injuries throughout the regular season, the Dodgers managed to secure home-field advantage throughout the playoffs. The atmosphere in Los Angeles will be electric on Friday night, and the Dodgers’ loaded lineup will get to Darvish early. –Dodgers 8, Padres 5
