The lead within the Nationwide League West might be on the road when the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers start a vital three-game collection on Friday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. After trailing the Dodgers for a lot of the season, the Padres (69-52) enter Friday with a one-game lead within the division over Los Angeles (68-53). The Dodgers as soon as led the NL West by 9 video games however are 12-21 over their final 33 video games.
On Friday future Corridor of Famer Clayton Kershaw (6-2, 3.14) will take the mound for the Dodgers. Michael King was scheduled to start out for San Diego, however he was positioned on the 15-day injured listing on Thursday due to left knee irritation. No starter for the Padres had been named as of Friday morning.
Prime sportsbooks have set Kershaw’s whole pitcher strikeout prop at 3.5. The SportsLine Projection Mannequin, which simulates each MLB recreation 10,000 occasions, charges Kershaw Underneath 3.5 as a 2.5-star play on its 5-star scale.
Nevertheless, the mannequin has discovered higher worth elsewhere on Friday’s 15-game schedule. There may be one pitcher strikeout prop that the mannequin has rated at 5 stars and two at 4.5 stars, together with one that may pay plus cash.
Braxton Ashcraft Underneath 3.5 strikeouts vs. Cubs (2:20 p.m. ET)
Score: 5 stars
Mannequin projection: 1.4 strikeouts
After spending much of the year coming out of the bullpen, the 25-year-old Pirates rookie righty makes his second consecutive start and third start overall this season. Ashcraft (3-2, 3.19) hasn’t gone longer than 3⅓ innings this year. That came in his last appearance when he struck out five against Cincinnati. But in his only other start this season, he struck out just two in three innings. On Friday he will face a Cubs ballclub that averages just 7.78 strikeouts per game, the fifth best mark in all of baseball.
Aaron Civale Over 3.5 strikeouts vs. Royals (8:10 p.m. ET)
Rating: 4.5 stars
Model projection: 4.5 strikeouts
This is a reasonable total for the 30-year-old White Sox righty. Civale (3-7, 4.91) has gone Over 3.5 strikeouts in 10 of 15 starts this season between Milwaukee and Chicago. Over his last four starts, he has cleared 3.5 strikeouts easily, striking out six, six, eight and six batters. Three starts ago he fanned six in five innings against a Cubs team that doesn’t strike out much at all. (See Ashcraft above.)
Landen Roupp Over 3.5 strikeouts vs. Rays (10:15 p.m. ET)
Rating: 4.5 stars
Model projection: 4.5 strikeouts
Sportsbooks are offering plus money on the 26-year-old Giants righty going Over. Roupp (7-6, 3.11) has gone Over 3.5 strikeouts in 14 of 20 starts this season and has averaged 7.0 strikeouts over his last two starts. On Friday he will face a Tampa Bay ballclub that doesn’t strike out much but is coming off an 11-strikeout game on Wednesday against the Athletics.
