Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Diego Padres Picks and Predictions June 16th 2025

Los Angeles Dodgers vs San Diego Padres June 16th 2025

The San Diego Padres will travel to Dodger Stadium to face the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday, June 16, 2025. The game is set to begin at 10:10 PM under clear skies with a light breeze. Fans can catch the action on the SDPA channel.

The Padres, led by manager Mike Schildt, hold a 39-31 record this season. Meanwhile, the Dodgers, managed by Dave Roberts, have a 43-29 record. Dylan Cease will start for the Padres, while Shohei Ohtani takes the mound for the Dodgers. This game is a key matchup in the NL West division.

Padres vs Dodgers Key Information

• Sport: Baseball
• Teams: San Diego Padres vs. Los Angeles Dodgers
• Venue: Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CA
• Date: Monday, June 16, 2025
• Betting Odds: Dodgers MoneyLine -158, Padres MoneyLine +132

The Padres Can Win If…

The San Diego Padres recently secured a commanding 8-2 win against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Nick Pivetta was impressive on the mound, pitching seven innings and striking out nine batters. Fernando Tatis Jr. led the offense with four hits, including two doubles, while Elias Díaz and Jake Cronenworth each contributed a home run.

The Padres have a solid team batting average of .249, which ranks 10th in the league. Their ability to generate extra-base hits was evident in their last game, where they recorded seven. With players like Manny Machado and Gavin Sheets, who have double-digit home runs, the Padres have the power to challenge any pitching staff.

On the pitching side, the Padres have a team ERA of 3.53, placing them 8th in the league. Their pitchers have limited opponents to a batting average of .225, which ranks 3rd. With Dylan Cease starting, who has shown the ability to dominate lineups, the Padres are well-positioned to secure another win.

The Dodgers Can Win If…

The Los Angeles Dodgers are coming off a close 5-4 win against the San Francisco Giants. Shohei Ohtani was perfect at the plate, going 3-for-3 with two runs. Andy Pages also made a big impact with a home run and four RBIs.

The Dodgers lead the league with a .264 batting average and 112 home runs this season. Their ability to score runs is evident, as they have the top on-base percentage and slugging percentage. Shohei Ohtani’s 25 home runs and .297 average make him a key player in their lineup.

In the upcoming game, Shohei Ohtani will also take the mound for the Dodgers. His presence as both a hitter and pitcher gives the team a unique advantage. With strong performances from players like Freddie Freeman and Mookie Betts, the Dodgers have a solid chance to win.

The Lean

The Dodgers are favored with a MoneyLine of -158 against the Padres at +132. The Dodgers have strong hitting stats, ranking first in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage. My model projects the Dodgers to win with a score of 5-3. Based on these factors, the recommendation is to pick the Dodgers to win straight up.

The over/under line is set at 8.5. The Dodgers’ offense is top-ranked, and the Padres’ pitching has a higher ERA at 4.18, ranked 22nd. My model projects a total score of 8. Given these projections, the recommendation is to pick the under for this game.

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The Moment is Here: Ohtani to Pitch for Dodgers vs. Padres

In bombshell news that will rivet the baseball world, Shohei Ohtani will make his long-awaited return to the mound on Monday night. For the first time since August 2023, and for the first time in his new uniform, Ohtani will pitch for the Los Angeles Dodgers as they open a three-game series against the rival San Diego Padres.

The Ohtani Experiment Begins

Ohtani, who is returning from his second Tommy John surgery, will serve as an “opener” in his debut. Manager Dave Roberts said the plan is for Ohtani to pitch just one inning to start the game, a decision spurred on by both Ohtani’s readiness and the team’s needs.

“Shohei is getting antsy,” Roberts said. “He’s ready to pitch in a big-league game.”

His return comes at a critical time for Los Angeles. The Dodgers currently have 14 pitchers on the injured list, the most of any of the MLB teams, making any contribution from the two-way superstar invaluable. The strategy of using a star as an opener is a fascinating topic in our expert betting guide.

Cease Looks for an Encore

The pitcher tasked with facing Ohtani in this electric atmosphere is San Diego’s Dylan Cease (2-5, 4.28 ERA), who is coming off his best start of the season. In a fascinating subplot, that dominant performance—seven shutout innings with 11 strikeouts—came against these same Dodgers just last week.

“What he did today is a great blueprint for what he needs to do,” Padres manager Mike Shildt said after that win. Now, Cease gets the ultimate challenge of trying to repeat that performance against a lineup that now includes Ohtani the pitcher. This incredible matchup will be the top focus on the scores and odds board.

Padres Suffer Roster Hit

The Padres will be without a star of their own, as center fielder Jackson Merrill was placed on the concussion injured list after a hard tag at second base over the weekend. “He wasn’t himself still, so it’s going to be a couple of days,” Shildt said.

To see what our experts think will happen in Ohtani’s historic return to the mound, check out our daily MLB picks.