San Diego Padres vs LA Dodgers Prediction 5/20/26 MLB Picks Today

The Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Diego Padres meet Wednesday in MLB action from Petco Park. 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 Shohei Ohtani here and Ohtani is 3-2 with a 0.82 ERA and 50 strikeouts this season. In his career, Ohtani is 0-1 with a 9.00 ERA and 5 strikeouts against the Padres. Randy Vasquez will start for San Diego here and is 5-1 with a 2.68 ERA and 45 strikeouts this season. In his career, Vasquez is 0-0 with a 3.72 ERA and 6 strikeouts against the Dodgers.

Los Angeles Dodgers Recap

The Los Angeles Dodgers come into this game looking to add on to their 5-4 win over the Padres last time out to sit at 30-19 this season. After this series, the Dodgers will head on the road for a series against the Milwaukee Brewers.

Dodgers Win 6 Of Last 7

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 shake off their loss against the Dodgers last time out to sit at 29-19 this season. After this series, the Padres will host the Athletics for a series.

Padres Looking For Big Series Win

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 20, 2026

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Randy Vasquez      Record this season: 5-1      ERA: 2.68
• Home Record: 3-0
• Last 5 against Dodgers: 0-1

Why the San Diego Padres will win

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

• Probable Starting Pitcher: Shohei Ohtani      Record this season: 3-2      ERA: 0.82
• Road Record: 0-1
• Last 5 against Padres: 0-1

Why the Los Angeles Dodgers will win

• The Dodgers have won six of their last seven games.
• The Padres have lost each of their last four night games following a home loss.
• The Padres have failed to cover the run line in each of their last four night games following a home loss.
• The Dodgers have covered the run line in four of their last five games following a win.

Total Runs Facts

• Seven of the Padres’ last eight home games have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• Four of the Dodgers’ last five games against NL West opponents have gone UNDER the total runs line.
• The ‘Inning 1 UNDER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of Shohei Ohtani’s last nine appearances as a starter.
• The ‘Inning 1 OVER 0.5 runs’ market has hit in each of the Padres’ last five night games against NL West opponents.

San Diego Padres Player Prop Facts

• Miguel Andujar has recorded at least one hit in each of his 10 previous appearances with his team as a home underdog against NL West opponents.
• Luis Campusano has hit a home run in three of his last four appearances against NL West opponents.
• Fernando Tatis Jr. ranks T8th in the league in Steals (12) this season.

Los Angeles Dodgers Player Prop Facts

• Freddie Freeman has hit two home runs in two of the Dodgers’ last three games against the Padres.
• Shohei Ohtani has recorded eight or more strikeouts in six of his last seven appearances against NL opponents.
• Tommy Edman has recorded at least one hit in each of his last six appearances against the Padres.
• Shohei Ohtani ranks 8th amongst qualified players for On Base Percentage (.399) this season.

Matchup/League Facts

• The Padres rank 30th in the league for hits this season (349).
• The Padres rank 30th in the league for batting average this season (.222).
• The Dodgers rank 1st in the league for on-base percentage this season (.342).
• The Dodgers rank 1st in the league for runs allowed this season (159).

Los Angeles Dodgers vs. San Diego Padres Prediction

I’m on the Dodgers here. I just think that Ohtani is the better option here and as long as we can get reasonable prices with him, I think it’s going to be a solid venture. I’m still not 100% convinced about Randy Vasquez and I think the Dodgers get to him enough for the win here. Give me Los Angeles.