2024 NLDS Preview: San Diego Padres v. Los Angeles Dodgers

2024 NLDS Preview: San Diego Padres v. Los Angeles Dodgers

It’s that time of year! October baseball is in full fledge! The San Diego Padres will meet up with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NLDS for the second time in three seasons! What should you look out for throughout the five-game series? Let’s dive into it!

San Diego Padres Overview:

The Padres were one of the hottest teams in baseball across the second half of the season, finishing 34-18 over their final 52 games with a plus-49 run differential.

They swept the Atlanta Braves in the Wild Card round, outscoring them 9-4 over their two games. Though it did come at a cost, as Padres starter Joe Musgrove dealt with elbow soreness and will have to undergo Tommy John Surgery on his throwing arm. He only threw 41 pitches (31 strikes) across 3.2 innings, striking four batters while allowing one hit and one earned run.

Fortunately enough, the Padres still have a stable of quality arms behind Musgrove in their rotation, including Dylan Cease, Michael King and Yu Darvish. They also have one of the best bullpens in all of baseball that features the likes of Jason Adam, Tanner Scott and Robert Suarez.

San Diego’s very well-rounded at the dish, too. They had baseball’s lowest strikeout rate (17.2 K%) by a wide margin post-All-Star break with a top-5 wRC+. This lineup–led by Luis Arraez and Fernando Tatis Jr.–is no slouch and one that gives opposing pitchers a headache to navigate.

Los Angeles Dodgers Overview:

Outside of the COVID-shortened 2020 season, the Dodgers have routinely suffered disappointing playoff exit after disappointing playoff exit for the better part of the last decade–including an NLDS elimination by the Padres in 2022.

Last year, Los Angeles was swept by NL West foe Arizona across three games in the NLDS, where Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman combined to go a dismal 1-for-21 in the series.

They added Shohei Ohtani this offseason, who was a revelation at the dish despite being unable to pitch after undergoing Tommy John Surgery last winter. Ohtani, who will be the likely winner of the NL MVP, led the NL in on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, home runs and RBIs while leading MLB in total bases.

Where the skepticism lies for the Dodgers this year is on the mound, where it will be without Gavin Stone and Tyler Glasnow in the rotation, plus Joe Kelly in the back of their bullpen due to injury. They have also been remarkably inconsistent this year, finishing No. 12 in strikeout rate, No. 13 in ERA and No. 21 in FIP. They don’t have much depth and have questions with consistency in the back of the bullpen.

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Biggest Keys To Victory:

Padres: Find ways to consistently navigate Los Angeles’ top-3

The Dodgers’ big 3–Ohtani, Betts and Freeman–are as good as any top-3 in baseball. If the Padres’ quality staff can consistently silence their production, they can find a way to win the series.

Dodgers: Pitching Consistency

The Dodgers can’t afford to fall behind in this series and rely on a pitching staff that’s been shaky this year. It needs consistency on the mound from their arms.

Prediction: Padres in 4

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