Padres at Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers were two strikes away from winning three straight one-run games in San Diego earlier this month before the Padres showed the kind of resilience they are going to need if they hope to remain in the National League West race all season long. The Padres attempt to chip away at the four-game gap between them and the Dodgers beginning on Tuesday when they visit Los Angeles for the first of two games between the division rivals.
The Dodgers scored the eventual game-winning run in the ninth inning in each of their first two victories in San Diego on May 3 and May 4 and appeared to be headed toward another close win following a two-run homer from Chris Taylor in the series finale. However, Manuel Margot and Wil Myers each laid down successful bunts after Eric Hosmer opened the ninth with a single off closer Kenley Jansen, who surrendered a walk-off, pinch-hit grand slam to Hunter Renfroe to wrap up an 8-5 win for the Padres. Los Angeles owns the NL's best home record at 17-6, although two of those losses came during a four-game series split with Washington over the weekend. San Diego was unable to take advantage, getting outscored 25-13 while dropping two of three in Colorado.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Chris Paddack (3-1, 1.55 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (2-0, 3.31)
Paddack won his third straight start and posted his second scoreless outing over that time in last Monday's victory over the New York Mets, setting career highs in innings (7 2/3) and strikeouts (11). The 23-year-old rookie, who has yielded no more than three earned runs in any of his seven turns, is holding opponents to a .130 average and owns 46 strikeouts versus only 10 walks across 40 2/3 innings. Paddack looks to improve on his 1-0 record and 1.80 ERA in three road starts as he opposes the Dodgers for the first time.
Kershaw is coming off the worst of his first five starts in 2019, but was credited with the win Wednesday against Atlanta despite surrendering season highs in runs (four) and hits (nine) across 6 2/3 innings. The three-time Cy Young Award winner settled for a no-decision in his previous outing, allowing three runs in six frames at San Diego. Former teammate Manny Machado and Ian Kinsler each homered off the 2014 NL MVP in that game, but Kershaw is 18-6 with a 1.97 ERA in 35 career starts versus San Diego.
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles OF Cody Bellinger (.407) is the first Dodger to carry a .400 batting average through 173 plate appearances in a season since Jackie Robinson in 1951.
2. Nineteen of Renfroe's 27 hits this season have gone for extra bases.
3. All 12 of Los Angeles OF Joc Pederson's homers this season have come against right-handers, and he needs one more home run to reach 100 for his career.