Padres (Davies) vs Dodgers (Kershaw) Game 2 Picks and Odds – Oct. 7th

• The Los Angeles Dodgers own a 1-0 lead in their NLDS series against the San Diego Padres
• Southpaw Clayton Kershaw takes the mound for the Dodgers, while the Padres will counter with right-hander Zach Davies
• Los Angeles is a -226 favorite in Game 2  on Tuesday night (Oct. 7, 9:08 pm ET)

The San Diego Padres keep setting MLB postseason records. The Los Angeles Dodgers just keep winning playoff games.

Both streaks were maintained Tuesday in the opener of the best-of-five NLDS between the two NL West rivals. The Dodgers whipped the Padres 5-1 as San Diego sent nine pitchers to the hill, a new NLDS record. LA has now won three straight and five of six from the Padres.

First pitch of Game 2 is slated for 9:08 pm ET tonight. With Clayton Kershaw on the mound facing the Padres’ Zach Davies, LA is a -226 favorite to open up a commanding 2-0 lead.

Padres vs Dodgers Game 2 Odds

Odds as of Oct. 7 at Pointsbet.

All games in the series are being played back to back at the neutral site of Globe Life Field in Arlington, Tex.

Kershaw will be making his second start of the 2020 postseason. He pitched a gem against Milwaukee in Game 2 of the Wild Card round, striking out 13 Brewer hitters over eight scoreless innings.

The Padres, strapped for starting pitchers, will counter by sending right-hander Zach Davies to the bump. He lasted just two innings in his Wild Card start against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Pitching Poor Padres

San Diego was excited to get right-hander Mike Clevinger (right elbow impingement) back to the hill to start Game 1. The excitement waned quickly.

Clevinger didn’t make it out of the second inning, leaving after consultation with manager Jayce Tingler and the training staff. He was pitching for the first time in 13 days. Clevinger has thrown just three inning since Sept. 13.

San Diego is already missing NL Cy Young Award contender Dinelson Lamet (right biceps injury), forcing Tingler to empty his bullpen’s tank.

Tuesday was the second-straight game that the Pades sent nine hurlers to the mound. The nine pitchers they used in each of their wins over the Cardinals were Wild Card-round records.

They deployed eight in their other playoff contest. With the possibility of playing five games in five days, this isn’t an optimal long-range strategy.

Davies Steady Against Dodgers

Davies didn’t get out of the third inning in his Game 2 start against the Cardinals, allowing four runs and posting an ERA of 18.00. San Diego eventually won that game 11-9 in spite of his generosity. However, Davis has been solid against the Dodgers this season.

He turned in a pair of quality starts against LA this season. Davies worked seven innings of two-run ball on Aug. 12. He followed that up with a six-inning stint Sept. 15, allowing three runs.

The Padres made it official. Zach Davies will start tonight's Game 2.

— Dennis Lin (@dennistlin) October 7, 2020

However, Davies did take the loss in both outings.

For the season, he was 7-4 with a 2.73 ERA, 1.067 WHIP, .216 opponent batting average, and 63 strikeouts against 19 walks over 69.1 innings pitched.

Kershaw Polishes Off Padres

There was big news for the Padres this season. On Sept. 14, they beat Kershaw and the Dodgers 7-2.

It was their first win against the dominant southpaw since June 2013. Kershaw is 21-7 lifetime against San Diego.

Clayton Kershaw just did this to a former MVP pic.twitter.com/qqJNeyPyDO

— Blake Harris (@BlakeHHarris) October 2, 2020

Kershaw takes to the mound on six day’s rest. He worked a masterful eight scoreless innings against the Brewers in his last outing. The lefty struck out 13, walked one and allowed three hits.

He was 6-2 with a 2.16 ERA this season. However, the same Kershaw often doesn’t show up in the postseason. He’s just 10-11 in 26 career playoff starts, with a startling 4.22 ERA.

Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers (-205)