Padres vs. Dodgers — Wild Card Preview?

San Diego Padres (74-65) vs. Los Angeles Dodgers (88-53), September 10-12, 2021

Location: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, CA

TV: Bally Sports San Diego

Radio: KWFN, XEMO

Dodgers SB Nation Site: True Blue LA

The Padres look to get their revenge on their biggest rival as they travel to LA to face the Dodgers this weekend.

Here’s a look at what we can expect:

Projected Starters

Friday, 7:10 p.m. PST

Joe Musgrove (10-8, 2.87 ERA) vs. Julio Urias (16-3, 3.11 ERA)

Saturday, 6:10 p.m. PST

Chris Paddack (7-6, 4.95 ERA) vs. Walker Buehler (13-3, 2.31 ERA)

Sunday, 1:10 p.m. PST

Blake Snell (7-6, 4.22 ERA) vs. Max Scherzer (13-4, 2.28 ERA)

Projected Lineups

Padres

1. Trent Grisham (CF)
2. Fernando Tatis Jr. (RF)
3. Manny Machado (3B)
4. Jake Cronenworth (SS)
5. Austin Nola (C)
6. Eric Hosmer (1B)
7. Wil Myers (LF)
8. Adam Frazier (2B)
9. Starting Pitcher

Dodgers

1. Trea Turner (R) 2B
2. Max Muncy (L) 1B
3. Mookie Betts (R) RF
4. Justin Turner (R) 3B
5. Corey Seager (L) SS
6. Will Smith (R) C
7. Chris Taylor (R) LF
8. Cody Bellinger (L) CF
9. Starting Pitcher

If the playoffs started today, this would be the NL Wild Card Game. The Padres would be visiting the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

However, that projection could change this weekend with three games between the Padres and Dodgers.

The Padres hold a one game lead over the Cincinnati Reds in the Wild Card race and a three-game lead over the St. Louis Cardinals.

The Reds and Cardinals face each other three times over the weekend, which could mean we see a lot of moving and shaking in the next few days.

If the Padres can come out of this series winning at least two, that could give them the momentum they need to carry them through until the end of the season.