Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres (2026-06-28). Emmet Sheehan vs Michael King at Petco Park.
Emmet Sheehan enters this contest with a season ERA of 5.32 and a WHIP of 1.3 over 67.2 innings pitched, demonstrating a tendency to allow runs at a higher rate. His K/9 of 10.11 indicates a strong ability to generate strikeouts, while his BB/9 of 2.66 suggests reasonable control, though his ERA trend is currently listed as "up". Conversely, Michael King has posted a more favorable season ERA of 3.33 and a WHIP of 1.16 across 92 innings, showcasing greater efficiency. King's K/9 stands at 7.63, lower than Sheehan's, and his BB/9 is 3.42, indicating slightly less precise command, but his ERA trend is "down", suggesting recent improvement. King also boasts a higher quality start percentage at 50% compared to Sheehan's 33.3%.
The Dodgers' offense is significantly more potent, with a team OPS of 0.788 and 439 runs scored, driven by a 0.263 batting average and 113 home runs. Their pitching staff also presents a strong front, holding a team ERA of 3.45 and a WHIP of 1.11, indicating effective run prevention. The Padres, in contrast, have struggled offensively, evidenced by their 0.663 team OPS and only 319 runs scored, alongside a lower batting average of 0.221. Their pitching unit has a higher team ERA of 3.91 and a WHIP of 1.3, suggesting more vulnerability on the mound compared to their opponents.
Recent head-to-head matchups between these two teams in 2025 show the Dodgers winning 9 out of 13 games, often with varied scoring outcomes, including both high-scoring affairs and tighter contests. The total line for this game is set at 8.0, which aligns with the expectation of a potentially moderate-scoring game, given King's solid season ERA and the Dodgers' strong offense, balanced against Sheehan's higher ERA and the Padres' less consistent offensive output.