The shoe is now on the other foot in this rivalry as the Padres no longer fear the Dodgers after beating them in the 2022 playoffs. SD now has a chance to reel in LA and grab the lead in the NL West...win all three in this series and San Diego will have the tiebreaker edge if ending up level in the standings, as the Padres have already won 7 of 10 meetings and the season matchup. The Padres seem to have a pitching edge here, as Michael King blanked the Dodgers on two hits thru seven innings back on May 10, and has been exemplary all summer, with a 2.22 ERA since the beginning of July. Play Padres on Money Line

Tuesday, the San Diego Padres begin their final regular season series against the LA Dodgers. This has been a lopsided series in the states this year, where San Diego has won all three series with a 6-2 record. Michael King will look to cool off the Dodgers who are averaging 9 runs over their last eight games, but saw the Marlins and Rockies staffs the past two series. Look for the Padres to carry over momentum after winning eight of their last nine games.

The Friars ain't afraid of the Dodgers and are reveling in making big brother sweat it out through the regular season. Padres 7-3 vs LAD, playing great ball for 3 months running with an ace pen and a starter on the mound who shoved last time he saw Dodger blue (7 IP, 2 H, 0 ER). King has allowed 2 ER or less in 12 of last 13 outings (2.16 ERA). Landon Knack has been solid for LA but this is a big ask here. Dodgers have some key pieces scuffling. I like the Friars momentum to carry them into Chavez this week.

The Padres started the season 50-50. They have gone 40-16 since. They've won seven of 10 against the Dodgers this season. They look like the better team right now. I'm riding with them here.