Preview: Kershaw And Dodgers Look To Carry Momentum Into San Diego
Two days after completing a sweep over the Arizona Diamondbacks in dramatic fashion, the Los Angeles Dodgers head to Petco Park to begin a three-game series with the San Diego Padres.
Riding a three-game winning streak, the Dodgers enter Friday’s contest with a 35-25 record, good for first place in the National League West. The Padres, meanwhile, remain in third place with a 31-31 record despite playing better baseball as of late.
Coming off his most dominant start of the season in which he allowed just one hit over eight innings against the St. Louis Cardinals, Clayton Kershaw (5-3, 3.36 ERA) takes the mound for only the second time this year against the Padres.
In his lone start against San Diego back on Opening Day, Kershaw allowed three earned runs and six hits over six innings pitched and ultimately walked away with a no-decision. His counterpart on the hill, Odrisamer Despaigne (3-4, 4.72 ERA), is making his first start of the season against the Dodgers.
Despaigne has however faced Los Angeles as he pitched against them in relief on April 25; an outing in which he didn’t allow a baserunner in one inning. Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez has torn the cover off the ball against his former team in 2015, to say the least.
In nine games against the Padres, Gonzalez has posted a 1.561 OPS with six home runs and three doubles in 34 plate appearances. Padres right fielder Matt Kemp, struggling offensively to this point, is batting .364/.432/.455 with three doubles in 37 plate appearances against the Dodgers this season.
The Dodgers are 6-3 against the Padres this season and 25-15 at Petco Park since Don Mattingly became manager in 2011.
Dodgers Lineup:
CF: Joc Pederson
RF: Yasiel Puig
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
2B: Howie Kendrick
3B: Justin Turner
LF: Andre Ethier
SS: Jimmy Rollins
C: A.J. Ellis
P: Clayton Kershaw
Padres Lineup:
1B: Wil Myers
C: Derek Norris
LF: Justin Upton
RF: Matt Kemp
2B: Yangervis Solarte
3B: Will Middlebrooks
CF: Melvin Upton Jr.
SS: Clint Barmes
P: Odrisamer Despaigne
[divide]Yasiel Puig On Nearly Hitting For the Cycle
