Padres vs. Dodgers: Early Odds and Preview for NLDS After Wild Card

The San Diego Padres beat the New York Mets 2-1 in the Wild Card round. They will play the Los Angeles Dodgers in an NLDS. Los Angles has the advantage of rest and the option to choose which pitchers start throughout the series. The Dodgers should have the edge at the start of the NLD, but the Padres can surprise them.

Los Angeles Dodgers are underdogs against San Diego. Game 1 is on Tuesday, October 11 at Los Angeles (9:37 p.m. ET, FS1). Game 2 is Wednesday, Oct. 12 at LA (8: 37 p., ET). Game 3 is Friday, October 14 at SanDiego (Time TBD,FS1) and Game 4 is Saturday, 15 October at L.A. (TBD, Time TBD).

The Dodgers have an advantage in the NLDS because of the travel and starting pitching usage against the New York Mets. Dave Roberts has the option to choose between Clayton Kershaw and Julio Urias for Game 1 against San Diego. Bob Melvin has to decide between Sean Manaea, Blake Snell and Joe Musgrove. Yu Darvish would be on three days rest if he starts in Game one. Los Angeles needs its starters to produce an early lead at home.

Freeman is the Dodgers' prized offseason acquisition. He had a .986 OPS and .343 batting average against San Diego in the regular season. Freeman had 17 RBI in his 19 games against the Padres. The Dodgers have a deeper lineup than the Mets. The Padres did a nice job of containing Francisco Lindor and Pete Alonso in Wild Card round.

Juan Soto went 4-for-8 in San Diego's last two games at Citi Field. He finished the series with a pair of RBI and just two strikeouts. Sato needs to be better against the Dodgers in the next week. The entire SanDiego lineup needs the production of Sotto. The team needs him to make up for its early disadvantage in pitching. If he does that, the team may be unstoppable in NL playoffs.