Dodgers Vs. Padres Preview: Greinke Starts, Puig Returns

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With the Los Angeles Dodgers falling Friday night to the San Diego Padres in extra innings, Zack Greinke takes the mound be and looks to lead the Dodgers to a victory Saturday.

In his last start, Greinke got out of slump as he was given extra time to rest his right elbow. Although four runs scored, he had an encouraging outing against the New York Mets as he pitched his way to his 13th win of the season.

Coming into Saturday’s game, Greinke will be aided again by extra rest days as the Dodgers didn’t have games on Monday or Thursday and he’ll look to continue his dominant pitching against the Padres. In his five games against them as a Dodger, Greinke has yet to be handed a loss by the Padres.

Starting opposite Greinke is Ian Kennedy, who comes in with a 10-11 record and 3.75 ERA. Kennedy has faced the Dodgers twice this season and lost both times. Back in April, he allowed three runs in his five innings of work and lost to Greinke.

Kennedy took on the Dodgers again Aug. 19, was hit hard for six runs and only pitched five innings. As a member of the Padres, Kennedy has yet to pick a win against the Dodgers; his last win came in 2012 while he was with the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Hanley Ramirez is back in the lineup after leaving Friday’s game because of tightness in his left quad/leg area. Prior to being removed, Ramirez tied the game with a solo home run in the eighth, however the Padres went on to win in 12 innings.

Yasiel Puig also returns after being absent from Friday’s lineup. Puig pinch-hit in the loss and struck out, which extended his hitless streak to 19 at-bats.

Dodgers Lineup:

2B: Gordon

SS: Ramirez

1B: Gonzalez

RF: Kemp

CF: Puig

LF: Crawford

3B: Turner

C: Butera

P: Greinke

Padres Lineup:

3B: Solarte

CF: Almonte

LF: Smith

1B: Grandal

2B: Gyorko

RF: Venable

C: Rivera

SS: Amarista

P: Kennedy
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