Padres vs Dodgers MLB Prediction, Odds & Best Bets for Seoul Series (3/21): LA’s Perfect Start Continues

This Padres vs Dodgers MLB prediction and Seoul Series best bets are brought to you by Bovada. Bovada is a market leader in sports betting, offering various options from the MLB to the NBA and everything in between.

After opening the 2024 MLB season with a 5-2 win on Wednesday, the LA Dodgers (1-0) will face the San Diego Padres (0-1) for the second game of the Seoul Series on Thursday, March 21.

#DodgersWin!

FINAL: #Dodgers 5, Padres 2 pic.twitter.com/6E2t0JAph2

— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) March 20, 2024

The Padres held a 2-1 lead after the fourth inning but couldn’t hold onto the lead as the Dodgers scored four unanswered runs in the eighth to secure the victory. Shohei Ohtani was solid in his LA debut, going 2-for-5 in the batter’s box while driving in one run.

Will LA sweep the Seoul Series? Or will San Diego find a way to win before heading back to America?

Start scrolling through my Padres vs. Dodgers MLB prediction and best bets to find out.

Padres vs Dodgers MLB Betting Today (3/21)

Padres vs Dodgers Seoul Series Information

• Matchup: San Diego Padres (0-1, 0-0 Away) vs. LA Dodgers (1-0, 0-0 Home)
• Venue & Location: Gocheok Sky Dome (Seoul, South Korea)
• Date: Thursday, March 21, 2024
• Game Time: 6:05 a.m. ET
• How to Watch Padres vs. Dodgers: ESPN

Dodgers vs Padres Odds & Spread

Dodgers vs. Padres odds are courtesy of Bovada as of Wednesday, March 20 at 11:42 a.m. ET. Odds from other top online sportsbooks may also be mentioned in this article.

Padres vs Dodgers Run Line

• San Diego Padres +1.5 (-135)
• LA Dodgers -1.5 (+115)

Dodgers vs Padres Over/Under

• Over 8.5 Runs (-120)
• Under 8.5 Runs (+100)

Padres vs Dodgers Moneyline

• San Diego Padres (+156)
• LA Dodgers (-190)

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Padres vs Dodgers MLB Betting Trends

• San Diego is 3-10 straight up in its last 13 games vs. the Dodgers.
• The Dodgers are 4-1 straight up in their last five games played in March.
• The total hit the Under in each of San Diego’s last seven games.
• The total hit the Under in four of the Dodgers’ last five games vs. the National League.
• The total hit the Over in six of the last eight Padres-Dodgers matchups.

Padres vs Dodgers Seoul Series Prediction & MLB Picks Today (3/21): Will LA Pull Off Sweep?

Wednesday’s outcome was hardly anything new for the Dodgers, who have now won 10 of their last 13 meetings with the Padres dating back to the 2023 campaign. If San Diego wants to buck that trend, it needs a more complete effort.

One reason why the Padres couldn’t capitalize on their 2-1 lead is that some of their key players didn’t show up. Fernando Tatis Jr., Jake Cronenworth, Manny Machado, and Ha-Seong Kim went a combined 0-for-14 at the plate, so it isn’t difficult to see why the offense was lacking.

At the end of the day, the Padres only recorded four total hits, which is the same as the Dodgers’ Ohtani and Mookie Betts had combined. Teoscar Hernandez even tallied two runs on Wednesday with the second serving as the game-winner.

New team.
Same incredible swing.

Shohei Ohtani rips his first RBI as a Dodger! pic.twitter.com/QxUtq172Iy

— MLB (@MLB) March 20, 2024

In other words, the Padres hope that starting pitcher Joe Musgrove can keep the Dodgers’ bats quiet. The 31-year-old righty is coming off one of the best seasons of his career after going 10-3 with a 3.05 ERA, 1.140 WHIP, and 9.0 strikeouts per nine innings.

Having said that, Musgrove has never defeated the Dodgers despite facing them 11 previous times, going 0-7 with a 3.92 ERA in those contests.

Meanwhile, Yoshinobu Yamamoto is making his highly anticipated LA debut after agreeing to a 12-year, $325 million contract over the offseason. The 25-year-old ace was electric for Japan’s Onix Buffaloes last season, pitching to a 17-6 record and 1.16 ERA while striking out 176 batters with only 28 walks allowed over 171 innings.

Yamamoto did record an 8.35 ERA across a trio of spring training starts, though, leaving time to tell if he’ll experience better results during the regular season.

All eyes will be on Dodgers RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto when he makes his MLB debut on Thursday. 

After winning decisively on Wednesday, I’m taking the Dodgers to sweep the MLB Seoul Series. Dave Roberts’ team looks like they’re ready to be World Series contenders, whereas the Padres showed they have a lot of work to do. Throw in the fact that Musgrove can’t seem to beat LA and it’s even easier to like the Dodgers’ odds.

Keeping that in mind, let’s take the Dodgers to cover the run line, too. After all, nine of the Dodgers’ last 10 victories over the Padres came by two or more runs. LA also just won by three runs yesterday and there’s a decent chance that history will repeat itself after San Diego struggled at the plate in Game 1.

If all goes to the Dodgers’ plan, this won’t be close.

Padres vs Dodgers MLB Prediction: LAD wins

Best Padres vs Dodgers Bet: LAD -1.5 (+115)

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Best Padres vs Dodgers Seoul Series Prop Bet (3/21)

Although he went 0-for-2 at the plate yesterday, I’m taking Freddie Freeman to record over 1.5 total bases as the best Padres vs. Dodgers player prop.

The 2023 season was a great one for Freeman, who recorded a career-high 361 total bases across 161 games — an average of 2.2 per outing. He also tallied the Over in six of the 13 games against the Padres last season, including when he amassed, which includes when he racked up three against Musgrove on May 13, 2023.

With a .462 batting average and 17 total bases in 31 plate appearances vs. Musgrove, I like Freeman’s chances of making good on this prop again.

Best Padres vs Dodgers MLB Prop Bet: Freddie Freeman o1.5 Total Bases (-110)

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