The Los Angeles Dodgers have dealt with plenty of injuries this season, along with stretches on the schedule with play below expectations, and yet something about the San Diego Padres brings out the best in the World Series champions.
The Dodgers will try for a three-game sweep of their Southern California rivals when they host the Padres on Sunday.
After they held on for a 3-2 victory on Friday, the Dodgers turned six walks issued by Dylan Cease over the first two innings into a 6-0 victory over the Padres on Saturday, while regaining sole possession of first place in the National League West.
“Obviously wins are great. We’re going to sleep well tonight, be ready to (sweep) tomorrow,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “I’m just happy that we’re playing better baseball. It just seems like we’re playing clean baseball. We’re minimizing the walks, taking walks, not making outs on the bases, and converting outs when we need to.”
In Sunday’s series finale, Los Angeles is set to send right-hander Tyler Glasnow to the mound.
Glasnow (1-1, 3.08 ERA) has not won any of his past 10 starts and yet has a 2.34 ERA over his past six outings and has averaged 7.5 strikeouts over his last four. In six career appearances (three starts) against the Padres, he is 0-0 with a 2.63 ERA.
The Dodgers’ offense scored five times in the first two innings Saturday and did it on just one hit. At the same time, the Dodgers recorded three of their first four outs on defense when catcher Will Smith threw out Fernando Tatis Jr., Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts trying to steal second base.
The Dodgers are now 7-2 against the Padres this season and have a chance at the sweep after entering the series with a 10-14 record since the All-Star break.
The Padres will counter with right-hander Yu Darvish (2-3, 5.61), a former Dodger who has made just seven season starts because of right elbow inflammation. Darvish is 5-5 over 15 career starts against Los Angeles, with a 2.27 ERA.
Darvish had a 1.72 ERA against the Dodgers in three regular-season starts last season then went 1-1 in a pair of playoff appearances, while allowing three runs over 13 2/3 total innings.
After the Padres entered the series with manager Mike Shildt praising his team’s relentless offense, the Padres have scored two total runs in two games after they averaged 6.2 runs in five consecutive victories before the series.
On Saturday, San Diego had six hits to five for Los Angeles and lost by six runs.
“Listen, that was an odd game,” Shildt said, when asked about three base stealers thrown out in the first two innings. “We had a plan, and they made some plays. And when you’re down, it hurts a little bit more. But you know, it’s an odd game when you outhit a team and lose 6-0.”
The Padres did not use left-handed hitters Gavin Sheets or Ryan O’Hearn in the starting lineup the past two games against left-handed starting pitchers, with both possibilities to play Sunday against Glasnow.
–Field Level Media
