SAN DIEGO (Interstat) — The Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres open a key four-game series Friday night at PETCO Park, with the Dodgers holding baseball’s best record at 52-29 and the Padres looking to build momentum at 42-37. Los Angeles enters having won three of its last four, including a 4-3 victory Wednesday at Minnesota. Shohei Ohtani, the Dodgers’ two-way star, delivered on both sides of that game, pitching 6.0 innings while allowing five hits and two earned runs with eight strikeouts, and also going 2-for-5 with an RBI. Over his last 10 games through June 24, Ohtani has started four games on the mound, posting quality starts in three of them, and batted .235 with three home runs and five RBIs. He is expected to both pitch and hit Friday against San Diego. The Padres counter with left-hander JP Sears, who earned the win in his most recent start Wednesday against Atlanta. Sears threw 5.2 innings, allowing five hits and two earned runs with five strikeouts in a 5-2 victory. Sears has been a steady presence in the rotation for San Diego, which has won four straight games overall. San Diego’s most recent win also featured first baseman Ty France, who went 2-for-3 with a home run and two RBIs, and reliever David Morgan, who tossed 1.1 scoreless innings. The season series between the National League West rivals has been tight. The Dodgers took two of three in their last visit to San Diego in May, winning 4-0 on May 20 and 5-4 on May 19, while the Padres earned a 1-0 victory on May 18. Los Angeles has had the upper hand in recent matchups, but all three decisions were by one or two runs. Interstat’s game simulator projects a 7-5 Dodgers victory. Los Angeles is installed as a -1.5 favorite, and the over/under is set at 8 runs. The series continues Saturday and Sunday before both teams hit the road for interleague play. The Dodgers visit the Athletics for three games starting Monday, while the Padres travel to Chicago for a three-game set against the Cubs. The two teams meet again July 2-5 in Los Angeles.