Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Diego Padres Prediction 5/18/2026 Today’s MLB Picks

The Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres meet Monday in MLB action from American Family Field. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres prediction.

Starting Pitching Matchup

The Los Angeles Dodgers will send out Yoshinobu Yamamoto for the start here and Yamamoto is 3-3 with a 3.60 ERA and 48 strikeouts this season. In his last five starts against the Padres, Yamamoto is 1-2 with a 6.38 ERA and 19 strikeouts. Michael King will start for the Padres and is 3-2 with a 2.63 ERA and 50 strikeouts this season. In his career, King is 1-0 with a 2.12 ERA and 18 strikeouts against the Dodgers.

Los Angeles Dodgers Recap

The Los Angeles Dodgers come into this game looking to add on to their 10-1 win over the Angels on Sunday to sit at 29-18 this season. After this series, the Dodgers will head on the road for a series against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Dodgers Win 5 In A Row

Andy Pages has 52 hits with 8 doubles, 10 home runs and 41 RBIs while Teoscar Hernandez has 41 hits with 7 doubles, 5 home runs and 23 RBIs. Shohei Ohtani has 42 hits with 9 doubles, 7 home runs and 24 RBIs and Freddie Freeman has 44 hits with 11 doubles, a triple, 4 home runs and 20 RBIs this season. Will Smith has 4 home runs as well this season. Max Muncy’s added 40 hits with 5 doubles, 12 home runs and 19 RBIs and Kyle Tucker has 43 hits with 13 doubles, 4 home runs and 23 RBIs this season.

San Diego Padres Recap

The San Diego Padres come into this game looking to add on to their 8-3 win over the Mariners last time out to sit at 28-18 this season. After this series, the Padres will host the Athletics for a series.

Padres Win 6 Of Last 8

Jackson Merrill has 35 hits with 9 doubles, 4 home runs and 19 RBIs while Ramon Laureano has 33 hits with 5 doubles, 2 triples, 5 home runs and 19 RBIs as well on the year. Fernando Tatis Jr. has 39 hits with 5 doubles and 15 RBIs and Xander Bogaerts has 42 hits with 3 doubles, 7 home runs and 23 RBIs. Manny Machado also has 29 hits with 5 doubles, 6 home runs and 20 RBIs as well on the year.

Los Angeles Dodgers @ San Diego Padres Betting Trends: May 18, 2026

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Michael King      Record this season: 3-2      ERA: 2.63
• Home Record: 1-1
• Last 5 against Dodgers: 3-0

Why the San Diego Padres will win

• The Padres have won six of their last seven games as underdogs after playing the previous day.
• The Dodgers have lost four of their last five games as road favorites against the Padres following a win.
• The Dodgers have failed to cover the run line in each of their last six road games against the Padres following a win.
• The underdogs have covered the run line in seven of the Padres’ last eight games at Petco Park.
• The Dodgers have trailed after 3 innings in three of their last four road games against opponents that held a winning record.
• The Padres have led after 5 innings in each of their last four home games against NL West opponents that held a winning record.

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Yoshinobu Yamamoto      Record this season: 3-3      ERA: 3.60
• Road Record: 2-1
• Last 5 against Padres: 2-1

Why the Los Angeles Dodgers will win

• The Dodgers have won each of their last five games.
• The Padres have lost each of their last five night games following a win.
• The Padres have failed to cover the run line in each of their last seven night games following a win.
• The Dodgers have covered the run line in each of their last five games.
• The Dodgers have led after 3 innings in five of their last six games.
• The Dodgers have led after 5 innings in each of their last five games against NL West opponents that held a winning record.

Total Runs Facts

• Each of the Padres’ last six home games have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Six of the Dodgers’ last seven games against NL West opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in eight of the Padres’ last nine home games.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of Yoshinobu Yamamoto’s last five appearances as a starter.

San Diego Padres Player Prop Facts

• Gavin Sheets has recorded at least one hit in 17 of his last 18 appearances against NL West opponents that held a winning record.
• Luis Campusano has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances against NL West opponents.

Los Angeles Dodgers Player Prop Facts

• Andy Pages has hit a home run in each of the Dodgers’ last two games against NL West opponents that held a winning record.
• Freddie Freeman has recorded at least one hit in each of the Dodgers’ last 14 road games against NL opponents that held a winning record.
• Andy Pages ranks T10th in the league in Hits (52) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Padres rank 30th in the league for hits this season (339).
• The Padres rank 30th in the league for batting average this season (.224).
• The Dodgers rank 1st in the league for on-base percentage this season (.345).
• The Dodgers rank 2nd in the league for hits this season (417).

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres Prediction

I’m on the Dodgers here. I know it hasn’t been the best start to the year for Yamamoto after his World Series showing last year, and he has had his fair share of issues against the Padres over the years. That being said, the Dodgers woke up offensively in that series against the Angels. The Padres beat up on the Mariners too, but I feel better about where the Dodgers are right now so I’ll back them to get the job done here. Give me L.A.

Chris Ruffolo's Pick: Los Angeles Dodgers -145