Padres at Dodgers
The All-Star break can’t come soon enough for the San Diego Padres, who could use a few days to regroup following a disappointing first half. Before heading out on break, San Diego begins a four-game series on Thursday against the host Los Angeles Dodgers, who have won three in a row and hold a commanding lead in the National League West.
San Diego began with high expectations after signing free agent Manny Machado, but the team has lost four in a row and sits two games under .500. The Padres appear to have two fixtures in the corner outfield spots in Hunter Renfroe and Franmil Reyes (combined 50 home runs), but Wil Myers has struggled at the plate and could continue losing playing time in center field to defensive standout Manuel Margot. The Dodgers recorded their fifth straight walk-off victory at home with Wednesday’s 10-inning, 5-4 win over Arizona. Cody Bellinger homered twice - including belting the winning blow - and Walker Buehler tossed seven strong innings for the Dodgers, who are 31-5 over their past 36 home games.
TV: 9:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Dinelson Lamet (NR) vs. Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (9-2, 1.83)
Lamet is set to make his first start of the 2019 campaign after missing all of last season due to Tommy John surgery. The 26-year-old native of the Dominican Republic, who went 7-8 with a 4.57 ERA in 2017, made six minor-league rehab starts and impressed catcher Austin Hedges during Monday’s bullpen session. “Everything is where it’s supposed to be,” Hedges told reporters. “He’s smarter now. He understands what he needs to be to be who he wants to be, which is one of the best pitchers in baseball.”
Ryu saw his streak of 15 consecutive starts allowing two earned runs or fewer snapped last Friday, when he gave up a season-high seven runs over four innings in a 13-9 loss at Colorado. The 32-year-old is widely expected to start the All-Star game for the National League after posting a stellar 94-to-7 strikeout-to-walk ratio in his first 16 outings. Myers is 5-for-12 with a home run against Ryu, who owns a 7-1 record and 2.26 ERA in 10 career starts versus San Diego.
WALK-OFFS
1. Bellinger is batting .377 with 19 homers and 39 RBIs in 44 home games this season.
2. San Diego’s last series win at Dodger Stadium came on April 29-May 1, 2016.
3. Dodgers 3B Justin Turner has been held out of the starting lineup for the past two games due to a sore left elbow but appeared as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning of Wednesday's contest.