After their first postseason series win since 1998, the San Diego Padres enter the bubble in Arlington, Texas, where they will face division-rival Los Angeles Dodgers. Here are five predictions for the first of a potentially five-game series.
1.) Mike Clevinger goes the first time through the order without giving up a baserunner.
Padres right-handed pitcher Mike Clevinger missed the final week of the season and the Wild Card Series due to an injury, but he is still the same pitcher he was before. The Dodgers have never faced Clevinger before today and usually the pitcher has the advantage in that situation.
2.) Wil Myers hits a second-inning home run.
Wil Myers has done very well against Los Angeles pitching, including a home run off Dodgers’ starter Walker Buehler earlier this season. Why not continue that trend in October?
3.) Greg Allen makes a really good defensive catch in the late innings of the game.
It was a surprise this morning for most fans when outfielder Greg Allen was added to the NLDS roster instead of Garcia or Mateo, and the coaching staff certainly wouldn’t do that without an obvious plan. Allen is known for his speed and defense, which would be useful late in a game where the Padres are up. If the Padres hold a lead in the seventh inning or later don’t be shocked to see Allen go out to left field instead of Profar.
4.) Padres pitching combines for 11 strikeouts of Dodgers hitters.
The Dodgers hitters don’t strike out often, but when they do, it always seems like the Padres are the opposing team. Clevinger goes six innings, eight strikeouts and the trio of Pagan, Pomeranz and Rosenthal combine for the final three innings with three added strikeouts.
5.) Padres beat the Dodgers by a score of 5-3.
A Game-1 win for San Diego would be huge, and they’ve got the pitching depth to do it. Clevinger goes six innings of two-run ball, with the back end of the bullpen giving fans a scare, as usual, but gets the job done. I predict Myers and Profar to hit home runs, with Profar giving the Padres the final lead they need mid-way through the nine-inning match.