The Los Angeles Dodgers had a modest three-game winning streak snapped Friday night and with that their lead over the Colorado Rockies in the National League West was cut to 1.5 games. Now Los Angeles needs a win Saturday to avoid a series loss to the last-place San Diego Padres.
Generally speaking, the Dodgers have played some of their best baseball of late. But the bulk of that success has come against postseason contenders, while they’ve struggled against the likes of the Cincinnati Reds and now Padres.
Overall, the Dodgers have won 12 of 17 games against the Padres this season. They’ll look to notch another win and avoid a series loss behind the arm of Rich Hill.
He takes the mound one day later than previously expected, which Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained was to provide the veteran with an extra day of rest and avoid having him face the Arizona Diamondbacks next week.
Hill enters 9-5 with a 4.02 ERA and 1.21 WHIP in 23 games (21 starts). He’s in a bit of a rut, having allowed four runs in each of his past three starts.
Hill last saw San Diego on Aug. 24, when he tossed six shutout innings and notched eight strikeouts at Dodger Stadium. Hill had seven strikeouts but allowed four runs on eight hits over seven innings back in July, his only other time facing the Padres this season.
San Diego counters with a second of three rookies this series in Jacob Nix. He’s making just his eighth career start and is 2-3 with a 5.75 ERA, 4.99 FIP and 1.42 WHIP.
Nix has allowed at least five earned runs in two of his last three starts, and surrendered a minimum of one home run in four of seven outings.
The Dodgers field a lineup that features a mix of left- and right-handed batters, though Manny Machado was moved from his usual No. 3 spot to cleanup. Max Muncy is now sandwiched between Justin Turner and Machado.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Joc Pederson
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Max Muncy
SS: Manny Machado
CF: Cody Bellinger
RF: Yasiel Puig
C: Yasmani Grandal
2B: Chris Taylor
P: Rich Hill
Padres lineup:
SS: Freddy Galvis
RF: Franmil Reyes
LF: Hunter Renfroe
C: Austin Hedges
1B: Eric Hosmer
3B: Wil Myers
CF: Manuel Margot
2B: Cory Spangenberg
P: Jacob Nix
