San Diego Padres vs Los Angeles Dodgers Prediction 7/3/2026 Today’s MLB Picks

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

Starting Pitching Matchup

The San Diego Padres will send out Michael King for the start and King is 5-7 with a 3.55 ERA and 83 strikeouts this season. Shohei Ohtani will start here for the Dodgers and is 8-2 with a 1.58 ERA and 86 strikeouts this season. 

San Diego Padres Recap

The San Diego Padres come into this game looking to shake off their 12-7 loss at the hands of the Dodgers on Thursday to sit at 43-43 this season. After this series, the Padres will head home for a series against Arizona.

Padres Lose 6 In A Row

Going into Thursday, Jackson Merrill has 67 hits with 15 doubles, 8 home runs and 31 RBIs while Ramon Laureano has 37 hits with 6 doubles, 2 triples, 7 home runs and 21 RBIs as well on the year. Fernando Tatis Jr. has 92 hits with 15 doubles and 33 RBIs and Xander Bogaerts has 65 hits with 5 doubles, 8 home runs and 32 RBIs. Manny Machado also has 58 hits with 16 doubles, 16 home runs and 46 RBIs as well on the year.

Los Angeles Dodgers Recap

The Los Angeles Dodgers will be out to add on to their win over San Diego from Thursday to sit at 57-31 this season. After this series, the Dodgers will take on the Colorado Rockies in a series at home.

Dodgers Win 5 Of Last 6

Entering Thursday, Andy Pages has 91 hits with 20 doubles, 16 home runs and 60 RBIs while Teoscar Hernandez has 52 hits with 8 doubles, 7 home runs and 32 RBIs. Shohei Ohtani has 88 hits with 15 doubles, 18 home runs and 50 RBIs and Freddie Freeman has 93 hits with 22 doubles, a triple, 14 home runs and 47 RBIs this season. Will Smith has 6 home runs and 23 RBIs as well this season. Max Muncy’s added 70 hits with 12 doubles, 17 home runs and 37 RBIs and Kyle Tucker has 70 hits with 16 doubles, 7 home runs and 44 RBIs this season.

San Diego Padres @ Los Angeles Dodgers Betting Trends: July 3, 2026

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Shohei Ohtani      Record this season: 8-2      ERA: 1.58
• Home Record: 5-1
• Last 5 against Padres: 1-1

Why the Los Angeles Dodgers will win

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

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Michael King      Record this season: 5-7      ERA: 3.55
• Road Record: 2-3
• Last 5 against Dodgers: 3-1

Why the San Diego Padres will win

• The Dodgers have lost three of their last four games as favorites against National League opponents following a win.
• The Padres have won four of their last five Friday games as underdogs against National League opponents.
• The Dodgers have failed to cover the run line in seven of their last eight home games.
• The Padres have covered the run line in 21 of their last 25 road games against NL West opponents following a road loss.
• The Dodgers have trailed after 3 innings in each of their last three home games.

Total Runs Facts

• Each of the Dodgers’ last six night games against National League opponents have gone OVER the total runs line.
• Four of the Padres’ last five night games as underdogs have gone OVER the total runs line.
• There has been no run scored during the first inning in 14 of the Padres’ last 16 night games against National League opponents.
• There has been no run scored during the first inning in seven of the Dodgers’ last eight games as favorites against National League opponents.

Los Angeles Dodgers Player Prop Facts

• Dalton Rushing has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances against the Padres.
• Shohei Ohtani has recorded a win in each of his last four appearances against NL West opponents.
• Shohei Ohtani has recorded seven or more strikeouts in seven of his last eight home appearances against NL opponents.
• Freddie Freeman has recorded at least one hit in each of the Dodgers’ last nine night games.
• Shohei Ohtani ranks 4th amongst qualified players for On Base Percentage (.406) this season.

San Diego Padres Player Prop Facts

• Manny Machado has hit a home run in each of the Padres’ last two games against the Dodgers.
• Michael King has recorded a win in each of his last three appearances in night games against NL West teams that held a winning record.
• Samad Taylor has recorded at least one hit in each of his last 12 road appearances.
• Michael King has recorded five or more strikeouts in each of his last four appearances against NL West opponents that held a winning record.
• Fernando Tatis Jr. ranks T7th in the league in Steals (20) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Dodgers rank 1st in the league for runs scored this season (474).
• The Dodgers rank T1st in the league for hits this season (794).
• The Padres rank 30th in the league for hits this season (634).
• The Padres rank 30th in the league for batting average this season (.225).

San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers Prediction

I’m on the Dodgers in this one. I get the case to be made for either side, as this is the premier rivalry in the NL West. That being said, this is still a spot where the Dodgers are the far better team terms of recent form in this one and Michael King’s been very hittable as of late. I think Shohei Ohtani’s the better option and I think the Dodgers back him up for the win here.

Chris Ruffolo's Pick: LA Dodgers -185