There’s no rest for the weary as the Los Angeles Dodgers, fresh off being swept in a four-game series by the Miami Marlins, now open a three-game set with the San Diego Padres to conclude their homestand.
Offensive production, or lack thereof, was an issue for the Dodgers during their series against the Marlins. Seeing the Padres may bring back positive memories and results, as Los Angeles shut out San Diego, 25-0, over the three-game Opening Series of the 2016 season at Petco Park.
From the Padres’ perspective, they face a pitcher they didn’t see during that bleak stretch in Alex Wood. In his last outing, the southpaw tossed five innings, allowed six hits, five runs and issued three walks.
Wood didn’t take a decision in a game the Dodgers won by rallying for five runs in the ninth inning. In four career starts against the Padres, Wood is 2-1 with 2.70 ERA and 1.30 WHIP.
He faced them twice last season, going 2-0 and throwing a combined 14 innings, allowing just two runs and collecting eight strikeouts. However, Wood also issued five walks, with four coming in one start.
San Diego sends rookie Cesar Vargas to the mound for just his second career start. In his Major League debut, Vargas allowed five hits and one run over five innings pitched against the St. Louis Cardinals. He didn’t earn a decision, though the Cardinals went on for an easy victory.
Vargas was signed by the New York Yankees as an amateur free agent in 2009. After the failed experiment, he signed with the Padres in 2015.
The 24-year-old right-hander threw 12.2 innings, had a 1.42 ERA and 14 strikeouts across two starts with Double-A San Antonio prior to joining the Padres this season. After Yasmani Grandal hit cleanup on Thursday, he’s penciled in at sixth in Dodgers manager Dave Roberts’ lineup.
Yasiel Puig remains in the five-spot, though he’s now hitting back of Adrian Gonzalez. Justin Turner is back in the lineup after a night off and bats third. Carl Crawford makes a second consecutive start in left field and third overall, since being reinstated from the disabled list this week.
While the Dodgers are mired in a four-game losing streak and have gone 4-6 in their last 10 games, the Padres have dropped five straight and are 3-7 over their last 10 games.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
RF: Yasiel Puig
C: Yasmani Grandal
LF: Carl Crawford
CF: Joc Pederson
P: Alex Wood
Padres lineup:
CF: Jon Jay
1B: Wil Myers
RF: Matt Kemp
LF: Melvin Upton Jr.
C: Derek Norris
SS: Alexei Ramirez
3B: Adam Rosales
2B: Jemile Weeks
P: Cesar Vargas
