\nTonight, 10:10 p.m. ET<\/p>\n
Clayton Richard (8-5, 3.48) vs Hiroki Kuroda (8-9, 3.53)
\nMLB odds: Padres +110, Dodgers -130 <\/p>\n
Anyone who expected the Padres to sit atop the National League West in August deserves a medal. Baseball\u2019s biggest surprise team keeps chugging along and, believe it or not, became a buyer at the trade deadline, picking up Ryan Ludwick and Miguel Tejada to help its offense. <\/p>\n
Now, the Padres have a chance to bury one of their rivals when they visit the Dodgers, who are reeling after getting swept by San Francisco over the weekend. <\/p>\n
Clayton Richard\u2019s mediocre WHIP (1.36) suggests he\u2019s been a bit lucky this season, and he did struggle in July, but he\u2019s righted the ship over his last two starts, allowing four runs over 12 innings. Richard also loves facing the Dodgers. He\u2019s unbeaten in three career starts against them, sporting a 2.60 ERA and not allowing a single homer. <\/p>\n L.A.\u2019s Hiroki Kuroda has been tidy as ever lately; he has a 1.80 ERA since the All-Star break and has walked just four batters in 20 innings over that span. But the Padres play him tough. Kuroda\u2019s greatest strengths are avoiding homers and not walking guys but he does both against San Diego. <\/p>\n In 42.2 career innings against them, he\u2019s walked 15 batters (high for him) and allowed six homers, amassing a 4.85 ERA. <\/p>\n Kuroda\u2019s nemesis is, predictably, Adrian Gonzalez. A-Gonz bats .333 with a pair of homers off him in 18 lifetime at-bats. <\/p>\n The numbers favor the Padres tonight. <\/p>\n Expect the Dodgers\u2019 woes to continue. <\/p>\n Gambling Trends:<\/strong><\/p>\n San Diego is 4-1 SU in its last 5 games on the road![\"\"](\"http:\/\/media.partners.betus.com\/BANNERS\/baseball\/sportsbook_baseball_250x250_mybanner.gif\")
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\nThe total has gone OVER in 4 of San Diego’s last 5 games on the road
\nSan Diego is 11-5 SU in its last 16 games
\nThe total has gone UNDER in 9 of LA Dodgers’s last 11 games when playing San Diego
\nThe total has gone UNDER in 9 of San Diego’s last 11 games when playing LA Dodgers
\nLA Dodgers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games at home
\nThe total has gone UNDER in 4 of LA Dodgers’s last 5 games at home
\nLA Dodgers are 12-5 SU in their last 17 games when playing at home against San Diego<\/p>\n