Dodgers vs. Padres: A Battle of Two Teams Going in Completely Different Directions

Prediction: L.A. takes two out of three. But I don’t feel all that confident about it.

I thought the Padres were better than this. I thought they’d scrap and claw and swagger their way to a season-long battle with the Dodgers for the National League West title. Instead, they’re a reeling mess of wounded-limb, third-place also-rans, fighting for their playoff lives with the Cincinnati Reds.

As of this morning, San Diego sits 10 games over .…