Dodgers at Padres
The San Diego Padres are coming off their best offensive performance of the season but will find themselves facing nemesis Clayton Kershaw on Friday when they host the Los Angeles Dodgers in the opener of a three-game set. Kershaw has limited San Diego batters to a collective .188 average while going 18-6 with a 1.90 ERA in 34 career starts.
The Padres racked up season highs for runs and hits (17) in Thursday's 11-2 thumping of the Atlanta Braves as seven players had two or more hits. "This is definitely what the offense is capable of doing," first baseman Eric Hosmer, who went 3-for-4, told reporters. "It was good to have a day like this where we broke out." San Diego's Manny Machado plays against his former team in the Dodgers, who dropped two of three games against the San Francisco Giants after winning their previous four games. Cody Bellinger, who leads the majors in batting average (.425) and RBIs (38) and is tied with Milwaukee's Christian Yelich for the home run lead at 14, was named National League Player of the Month.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (1-0, 2.25 ERA) vs. Padres LH Eric Lauer (2-3, 4.41)
Kershaw picked up his first win of the season in his last turn when he held Pittsburgh to one run and four hits over seven innings while recording eight strikeouts. The 31-year-old has allowed just 11 hits in 20 innings over three starts after missing the beginning of the season with a shoulder ailment. Kershaw has dominated Wil Myers (3-for-30, 10 strikeouts) and Austin Hedges (1-for-12) in head-to-head matchups while experiencing some issues with Hosmer (5-for-15, one homer).
Lauer had great success against the Dodgers last season as a rookie as he went 3-0 with an 0.92 ERA and 1.02 WHIP in three starts. The 23-year-old received a no-decision against the Washington Nationals in his last turn when he gave up two runs and two hits over 5 2/3 innings. Lauer is winless over his last three outings despite having 16 strikeouts in 15 2/3 innings during the span.
WALK-OFFS
1. Myers had a homer and three RBIs against the Braves on Thursday after being 0-for-16 over the previous five games.
2. Bellinger is batting .302 with seven homers, eight doubles and 23 RBIs in 33 career games against the Padres.
3. San Diego 2B Ian Kinsler is 5-for-9 with a homer in two games in May after going 8-for-72 in April.