It looks like a bullpen game tonight for the desperate Dodgers. So, expect a steady stream of LA pitchers as Dave Roberts is acutely short of frontline rotation pieces. The Padres are also a bit depleted with their staff and will be starting Dylan Cease on short rest after he pitched (and not too well) in Saturday's Game One, though he was only on the mound for 82 pitches. Relievers are going to be a storyline regardless, though San Diego's ongoing lack of fear of the Dodgers is looking like the main narrative of this series. Seven Padre homers while scoring in bunches (16 runs) across the past two games has LA once again on the postseason ropes. Play Padres on Run Line (-1)

The last four meetings between the Padres and the Dodgers have gone over the total. Dylan Cease is pitching and he's lost his last two games to the Dodgers on September 25th and October 5th. He’s allowed eight runs combined in the two starts. His last start in game one he allowed five runs in 3.1 innings. I'd like to take Cease but I don't think I can trust him like I can trust the over. Padres have gone over in their last four. Dodgers have gone over in six of their last seven. These guys hate each other. Just the over.

Some teams are built for bullpen games with everything on the line (Tigers, Guardians) and the Dodgers are not. Give me Dylan Cease on short rest with a loaded pen behind him looking to close out their rivals over Dodgers fading arms in do or die on the road. Friars taking better ABs and Friars have hottest bat in the series (Tatis) and also better fielding team. Home field advantage is real with them. Freddie Freeman being beat up, makes it easier to pitch around Ohtani. Just keep Teoscar in the ballpark and win this series today.

Likely my last pick for a while with Hurricane Milton on its way. Wish me luck. The Padres are the new World Series favorites and Fernando Tatis Jr. is on a fire. They are bringing back Dylan Cease on three days of rest but he only threw 3.2 innings in his Game 1 start and obviously SD can use anyone behind him other than Michael King. Almost feel bad for the Dodgers with their pitching situation as they are forced to use Ryan Brasier, Landon Knack, etc.