The San Diego Padres released a veteran, a pitcher doesn't like facing the Dodgers and the latest on Jackson Merrill's injury.

Preview the Aug. 17 matchup between the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres with odds over/under, game spread, betting lines and more.

Mookie Betts hits a home run in the bottom of the eighth to lift the Dodgers past the Padres and into a two-game lead in the NL West.

LOS ANGELES — It was touted as the biggest series of the month. It was billed as a potential passing of the torch, with the San Diego Padres threatening to win the National League West for the first time in 19 years. Instead, Sunday’s finale ended in a three-game sweep — and a relatively convincing one, at that.

Mookie Betts hits a tiebreaking solo homer in the eighth inning, helping the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the San Diego Padres 5-4 on Sunday.

Then Betts rescued the Dodgers with the 394-foot shot to left-center off Robert Suarez. It was the shortstop's 13th homer of the season and just his fifth since June. Betts had 25 in 2022 and 39 in 2023.

They leaned on him as they toppled the Los Angeles Dodgers in their most significant postseason series in decades. They got him at his best. His three years there included his second Cy Young campaign before he left to tour with their California-based division mates.

The San Diego Padres were swept by the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend, but have a chance to redeem themselves beginning Friday as the NL West rivals face off at Petco Park. More news: Padres Pitcher Doesn't Like Facing the Dodgers for One Major Reason Last Saturday,