Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres (2026-06-26). Roki Sasaki vs Walker Buehler at Petco Park.

Roki Sasaki enters this contest with a season ERA of 4.76 and a WHIP of 1.29 across 68 innings in 13 starts, demonstrating a tendency for higher run allowances than his counterpart. His strikeout rate of 9.26 K/9 is respectable, but his walk rate of 3.31 BB/9 suggests some control issues, further compounded by a 1.72 HR/9. Sasaki's recent trend shows a downward trajectory in ERA, but his last five starts have been inconsistent, including a 7.00 ERA outing and a 6.35 ERA outing, with his quality start percentage at a low 16.7 percent and an alternating pattern in performance. Conversely, Walker Buehler has a more favorable season ERA of 3.96 and a slightly higher WHIP of 1.32 over 72.2 innings in 15 starts. Buehler's K/9 is 8.05 and his BB/9 is 2.85, indicating slightly better control, and his significantly lower HR/9 of 0.62 is a notable advantage. Despite a recent upward trend in ERA, Buehler has managed to avoid blow-up starts, with a 0 percent blow-up rate, though his quality start percentage also stands at 16.7 percent, similar to Sasaki.

The Dodgers' offense is statistically superior, boasting a robust .783 OPS, a .262 batting average, and 423 runs scored, indicating a high-powered lineup capable of consistently generating offense. Their 109 home runs further underscore their ability to produce power. On the pitching side, the Dodgers' staff has a strong 3.40 ERA and a 1.10 WHIP, supported by a 9.03 K/9, suggesting an effective and strikeout-heavy rotation and bullpen. The Padres' offense lags behind, with a .658 OPS, a .220 batting average, and only 309 runs scored, highlighting struggles in both hitting for average and power. Their pitching staff, while not as dominant as the Dodgers, maintains a respectable 3.85 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP, with an 8.44 K/9, indicating a solid, but less elite, overall pitching performance.

The head-to-head history between these two teams in 2025 shows the Dodgers holding a significant advantage, winning 10 of their 13 matchups. The total line for this game is set at 7.5 runs, which appears to reflect the contrasting offensive strengths and the relatively inconsistent starting pitching. Given Sasaki's higher season ERA and recent struggles to limit runs, combined with Buehler's tendency for an upward ERA trend, the total line suggests expectations for moderate scoring, potentially influenced by the Dodgers' potent offense and the Padres' less consistent run production.