Dodgers vs. Padres Prediction Tonight: Best Bets & Odds for Los Angeles at San Diego

Can the Dodgers force a rubber match tomorrow in San Diego, or will the Padres take back the NL West lead en route to clinching the series?

Mike Spector

Last Updated: August 23, 2025 12:30 PM EDT • 4 minute read

Dodgers vs. Padres Prediction, Odds & Best Bets: Saturday, Aug. 23 — Pictured: Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Mookie Betts (50) hits a solo home run as I make my Dodgers vs. Padres prediction. Photo by Jonathan Hui via Imagn Images.

San Diego can take back sole control of first place in the NL West with a win tonight, but my Dodgers vs. Padres prediction makes a case for Los Angeles to force a rubber match in the final meeting of the season on Sunday.

First pitch is slated for 8:40 p.m. ET (FS1) from Petco Park in San Diego. The best sports betting sites list the Dodgers as -145 betting favorites, with a total set at O/U 8.5 runs.

My Dodgers vs. Padres best bets expect the visitors' offense to get back on track after scoring just one run in the series opener, with one of its top sluggers leading the charge.

⚾ Dodgers vs. Padres prediction & odds

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💰 Dodgers vs. Padres prediction & best bet

✅ Dodgers vs. Padres prediction: Dodgers to win (-140 via bet365)

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San Diego has won five straight series at home and entered this three-game set having won 14 of its last 19 overall at Petco Park behind a 3.30 team ERA. But Los Angeles has been one of many divisional opponents the hosts have not been able to solve, which is why I am backing the visitors with my Dodgers vs. Padres prediction.

San Diego beat up on the San Francisco Giants this year, winning 10 of the 13 games in the season series. However, the Padres are just 13-14 against the rest of the NL West, including a troubling 3-8 against the Dodgers. Los Angeles is getting healthy, especially in the bullpen after activating Tanner Scott on Friday, with Kirby Yates likely available tonight.

This Dodgers vs. Padres best bet also backs Los Angeles’ starting pitching edge, as Tyler Glasnow led the team to a win over San Diego in his last start after allowing two runs over five innings. Meanwhile, Nestor Cortes has allowed three first-inning home runs in two of his five starts this year, so there is potential for the Dodgers to jump out to another early lead.

San Diego’s tablesetter, Fernando Tatis Jr., was slashing just .274/.405/.389 amid his career-high 24-game home run drought entering this series, and I expect his struggles after going hitless on Friday to spill over to the rest of the Padres lineup tonight.

The cheapest price of all the best sports betting apps to back the road favorites is at bet365.

📊 Live Dodgers vs. Padres odds: Saturday, 8:40 p.m. ET

🧐 Dodgers vs. Padres betting insights

The latest Dodgers vs. Padres betting insights are via BetMGM as of Saturday afternoon.

Team	Run Line	Moneyline	Total
Dodgers	50% (-1.5, +120)	81% (-135)	73% (Over 8, -115)
Padres	50% (+1.5, -155)	19% (+115)	27% (Under 8, -105)

💰 Best Dodgers vs. Padres player prop

✅ Best Dodgers vs. Padres player prop: Freddie Freeman Over 0.5 RBIs (+160 via bet365)

Dodgers slugger Freddie Freeman was amid a torrid 20-game stretch entering this series opener, and his consistency in lefty vs. lefty matchups has me backing him with my best Dodgers vs. Padres player props.

In the 20 games entering the weekend, Freeman batted .338 with six home runs and 18 RBI, which leaves him four home runs shy of his fifth straight 20-home run season and 12th of his career. Freeman is 2-for-5 with a home run in his career against Cortes. The southpaw has allowed four-plus runs in two of his five starts, so there should be plenty of RBI chances for the slugger who ranks in the top 33 in that category.

Freeman’s implied probability to drive in a run is as high as 44.44% through +125 odds at the best sportsbooks on the low end of the market. But bet365 offers the highest potential returns of $16 in profits on a winning $10 wager.

💡 Expert MLB predictions today

❓MLB betting FAQs

How do betting odds work?

Betting odds represent the probability of a specific outcome and determine how much money you can win on a bet. There are three main formats: American odds, Decimal odds, and Fractional odds. In the U.S., American odds are most common.

What is the run line in baseball?

The run line in baseball is a form of point spread betting unique to MLB. It typically sets a standard spread of 1.5 runs, meaning the favored team must win by at least two runs to cover the run line, while the underdog can lose by one run or win outright to cover.

What does moneyline mean in betting?

The moneyline in betting refers to a wager on which team or player will win the game outright, with no point spread involved. It’s the most straightforward type of sports bet - just pick the winner.

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Written by:
Mike Spector

Mike started in the sports writing industry in July 2019, and gained a lot of followers in his first year after finishing with the No. 2 overall record in an annual NFL betting competition, which made picks against the spread, and from an Over/Under and moneyline perspective. Mike is an avid fan of the NFL, MLB, tennis, and all college sports. In his opinion, March Madness is the best sporting event there is, and he's especially euphoric starting with conference tournament time in college basketball. Mike's a big advocate of "fading the public" and making plays that are contrarian, constantly citing that "there are reasons why they have those big shiny buildings in Las Vegas." When making wagers, Mike always scours the best odds at all of the major sports betting sites, where he mostly sifts through DraftKings, FanDuel, BetMGM, and bet365. He's tried several others and is of the firm belief that bettors should not just stick to one sportsbook, as there is always likely better value to be had with the same wager. In addition, while Mike received his undergraduate degree from Villanova University, he has no issue betting against the Wildcats when it comes to college basketball wagering, and suggests other bettors should always put their “head” before their “hearts.”