Los Angeles @ San Diego preview
Petco Park
Last Meeting ( May 15, 2010 ) LA Dodgers 4, San Diego 1
Even when it appears that things are finally starting to go in the right direction for the Los Angeles Dodgers, they are dealt a potentially devastating blow in the process.
The Dodgers wrapped up a 4-1 victory over the San Diego Padres on Saturday night without slugger Andre Ethier, who was held out of the game after hurting his finger during batting practice.
The news didn’t get better following the contest when an X-ray revealed that Ethier suffered a broken bone in his right pinkie that will sideline him for the near future.
The extent of his absence will not be known until Ethier travels back to Los Angeles to meet with a team physician and a hand specialist, but the team is preparing for the worst.
In the meantime, the Dodgers will forge ahead without their star outfielder as they look for the three-game sweep against San Diego on Sunday at Petco Park.
Ethier, who is currently leading the National League in the Triple Crown categories with a .392 average, 11 home runs and 38 RBIs, wasn’t needed in Saturday’s win as Clayton Kershaw and James Loney took care of it.
Kershaw scattered three hits over seven strong innings and Loney belted a home run to pull Los Angeles to within three games of their first-place counterparts.
Chad Billingsley takes the ball for Los Angeles in an attempt to keep the winning ways going. The right-hander is currently 3-2 with a 4.82 ERA and has traded wins and losses over his past four outings.
Billingsley has enjoyed success in his career against the Padres, a team which he has faced more than any other in the league. He is 8-4 with a 2.71 ERA in 18 appearances - 14 starts.
San Diego will send Wade LeBlanc to the hill in hopes of snapping the club’s mini two-game skid.
Through five starts, LeBlanc has yet to be beaten and is 2-0 with a 1.61 ERA. He has allowed a total of five runs on the season, with a pair each coming in his last two starts.
The left-hander is making his fifth start against the Dodgers, allowing 13 runs in 18 2/3 innings against them coming in.
Dodgers shortstop Rafael Furcal, who was originally expected to come off the disabled list on Friday, will miss Sunday’s finale and will need one more rehab appearance in the minors before being activated.