2 min read • July 02, 2022
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The biggest story going in is the availability of All-Star 3B Manny Machado, who has recently returned from a severe left ankle sprain ankle issue. Besides the injury issue to the man at the hot corner, each team is dealing with bumps and bruises to key contributors.
The good news for the Padres is that Machado is back in the lineup and playing third base, but the injury is altering his swing, which is preventing the stud from driving the ball with power.
His bat is vital to the Padres offense that has dealt with no Fernando Tatis Jr. for the entire season and the absence of Wil Myers since May 31.
Since the Machado injury on June 19, the Padres have scored over 4 runs just once, averaging a mediocre 3.5 runs per game, a full run lower than their season average.
A season-long average of 3.5 runs per game would have San Diego ranked 29th out of 30 teams.
While the Padres have Machado back in the lineup, the Dodgers will continue to play without stars SP Walker Buehler and OF Mookie Betts.
The pitching staff for the Dodgers have been tormented by injuries all season starting with free agent signee Andrew Heaney, who has been sitting on the IL since June 24 due to shoulder inflammation.
Veteran SP Clayton Kershaw was recently activated for the IL mid-June (SI joint inflammation), but now young buck Walker Buehler is nursing a flexor strain in his forearm on top of recovering from arthroscopic surgery to remove a bone spur.
With the focus on the SP staff health, a key loss and MVP contender Mookie Betts has been out since June 15 due to a cracked rib but is trending towards a quick return and may be slotted at 2B due to the shorter range of throws.
The Dodgers have played well without Betts, winning 9 of 16 and continuing their league leading scoring pace.
Dodgers O4 Team Total Runs - The majors best offense continues to produce without key cog Mookie Betts, have gone over 4 runs twice in the last three games
Tyler Anderson O4.5 Strikeouts - The Padres hold no threat on offense and even with Machado back, the offense will not return so swiftly. The Padres have struck out 8+ times in the last two games, expect the Dodgers starter to go over his Ks prop
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