Preview: Corey Seager Makes MLB Debut In Opener Of Dodgers’ Road Trip

After sweeping the San Francisco Giants at home for the first time since June of 2013, the Los Angeles Dodgers now open a 10-game road trip in San Diego against the Padres. Though that number is skewed a bit as it includes a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim beginning on Labor Day.

Mat Latos looks to improve the Dodgers’ 8-4 record against the Padres this season, including a 4-2 mark at Petco Park. On the season the 27-year-old right-hander is 4-9 with a 4.76 ERA, 3.53 FIP and 1.28 WHIP.

It’s a homecoming of sorts for Latos as he spent the 2009-2011 seasons in San Diego. Since being traded by the Padres, he’s a career 0-2 with a 2.08 ERA over four starts against his former club.

All four starts have come at Petco Park, including one this season back on July 26 when Latos allowed three runs on six hits and had five strikeouts in six innings; he suffered a tough-luck loss in the Padres’ 3-2 win.

Including his time with the Padres, Latos is 12-15 over 35 career starts at Petco Park with a 2.98 ERA and .225 batting average against. It’s been a rough go of it for Latos since being traded to the Dodgers. He’s 0-2 with a 6.05 ERA over four starts and has managed to pitch at least five innings only once.

Additionally, Thursday marks his second start since being inserted back into the starting rotation after he was sent to the bullpen on the Dodgers’ most recent road trip. The Padres counter by sending Colin Rea to the bump for just his fifth start in the Majors, and first against the Dodgers.

Rea enters 2-2 with a 5.95 ERA, 3.90 FIP and 1.48 WHIP. Three of Rea’s four career starts in the Majors have come at Petco Park, where he’s 2-1 with a 5.52 ERA and has 12 strikeouts over 14.2 innings pitched.

Prized Dodgers shortstop prospect Corey Seager starts at shortstop and makes his Major League debut on the same day he was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City. In other lineup news, Andre Ethier gives way to Scott Van Slyke in right field as Ethier has some swelling in his right knee after taking a foul ball off it Wednesday night.

With Jimmy Rollins receiving the night off, Joc Pederson bats in the leadoff spot for the first time since July 28. The Dodgers bullpen has another fresh face as Yimi Garcia was recalled from OKC, bringing the active roster to 33 players.

Adrian Gonzalez is batting .391 (18-for-46) this season and .328 (75-for-229) in his career against his former club. The lifetime batting average trails only Giants catcher Buster Posey (.333, 88-for-264) and teammate Carl Crawford (.342, 52-for-152) among active players with the highest career batting against the Padres.

Dodgers Lineup:

CF: Joc Pederson

2B: Chase Utley

1B: Adrian Gonzalez

3B: Justin Turner

LF: Carl Crawford

C: Yasmani Grandal

RF: Scott Van Slyke

SS: Corey Seager

P: Mat Latos

Padres Lineup:

3B: Yangervis Solarte

2B: Cory Spangenberg

RF: Matt Kemp

LF: Justin Upton

SS: Jedd Gyorko

1B: Brett Wallace

C: Derek Norris

P: Colin Rea

CF: Travis Jankowski