Dodgers Vs. Padres Preview: Haren Looks To Keep Team In First Place
With an 8-5 record and 4.06 ERA, Dan Haren takes the mound for the Dodgers. The right-hander hasn’t fared well against the Padres of late, going 1-3 with a 6.04 ERA in his last five starts against San Diego.
However, pitching at home may be an advantage for Los Angeles as Haren is 4-1 with a 2.96 ERA in eight home starts this season.
As for San Diego, they call on rookie Jesse Hahn. The right-hander is 4-2 with a 2.34 ERA this season. Before losing his start on Sunday against the San Francisco Giants, Hahn won four consecutive outings — posting a 0.75 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 24 innings of work. This is Hahn’s first time facing the Dodgers and he is 2-0 this season in road starts.
Hahn’s success on the road will be put to the test against a lineup that features Yasiel Puig. At home this season, the Dodger slugger is batting .309 with six home runs and 23 RBIs. However, this season against the Padres, Puig is batting just .167 with one home run and four RBIs in seven games against the Dodgers’ division rival.
The Dodgers are 5-5 in their last 10 games. Los Angeles enters today’s contest one game ahead of the San Francisco Giants for the lead in the NL West standings.
Dodgers Lineup
2B: Gordon
RF: Puig
1B: Gonzalez
LF: Kemp
CF: Van Slyke
3B: Uribe
SS: Rojas
C: Butera
P: Haren
Padres Lineup
RF: Smith
3B: Headley
LF: Quentin
C: Grandal
1B: Goebbert
2B: Conrad
CF: Venable
SS: Amarista
P: Hahn
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