San Diego Padres vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Prediction: Can Merrill Kelly Dominate Manny Machado and the Padres?

San Diego Padres vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Prediction: Can Merrill Kelly Dominate Manny Machado and the Padres?

Padres vs. Diamondbacks Start Time, Where to Watch, and Odds

• Date: July 17, 2022
• Game Time: 4:10 pm ET
• Where to Watch: MLB.TV

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Padres vs. Diamondbacks Line Movement

San Diego Padres vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Prediction

The Arizona Diamondbacks will face off against the San Diego Padres on Sunday afternoon for the final game before the All-Star break. The first half of the season did not go the way Arizona wanted, as they currently sit 21.5 games out of first place in the NL West. They are looking to avoid the sweep on Sunday afternoon and will send their best arm to the mound in the form of Merrill Kelly.

The Padres have had a positive first half to their season as they represent a record of 52-41 and are holding onto a wildcard playoff spot. They have done all of this without their star player Fernando Tatis. Tatis Jr. is expected to return in the second half of the season, and when he does, this will be a team that no one wants to see in the playoffs.

Manny Machado has stepped up and held it down for the Padres in the first half of the season. The pitching for San Diego has also been solid this year, headlined by Joe Musgrove, who is turning in a career year.

The man getting the ball today has been very good for the Padres in the form of Mike Clevinger. Clevinger has some of the best stuff in baseball but has battled injuries the last few seasons. It appears he is back to form this year and will be a pivotal piece in the Padres' pursuit of a championship. San Diego enters this game as a -165 favorite. 

I am looking at a prop this afternoon centered around Merrill Kelly. I am taking Kelly to record over 17.5 outs. Basically, what that means is we need the right-hander to turn in six innings of work.

I love this spot for Kelly as the D-Backs bullpen has been taxed in this series, and they will need him to eat up innings today. Kelly has gone over this number in seven straight starts dating back to June 8th. He is the type of pitcher that even if he is giving up runs, Arizona will let him go, and he can still get to this number. This Padres lineup is fairly limited and extremely top-heavy. So as long as Kelly can avoid a big number inning today, he should cruise to this over. Let’s keep things rolling on the diamond! 

San Diego Padres vs. Arizona Diamondbacks Pick

• Merrill Kelly Over 17.5 Outs (-125) (Bet $125 to win $100)

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