Los Angeles @ San Diego preview
Petco Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 5, 2010 ) San Diego 5, LA Dodgers 0
The poorly timed collapse of the San Diego Padres is nearing monumental proportions.
The Padres saw their losing streak reach 10 games on Sunday and will seek their first victory since Aug. 25 when they host the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday night in the opener of a three-game series at Petco Park.
San Diego is now just one game ahead of the second-place San Francisco Giants in the NL West and is closing in on the franchise-worst 13-game losing streak from May 1994. The Padres are also quickly becoming aware of the fact that only two teams in major-league history have ever reached the postseason in a season when they had a losing skid of 10 or more games.
Of course, joining the 1951 New York Giants and 1982 Atlanta Braves with that dubious distinction would be vastly better than missing the playoffs.
But the Padres are certainly in jeopardy of missing the postseason due to the skid that dates back to beating the Arizona Diamondbacks on Aug. 25.
San Diego has been outscored 55-23 during the losing streak that has seen a 6 1/2-game lead shrink to one. And the Colorado Rockies are suddenly just 4 1/2 games out after sweeping three games from the Padres over the weekend for their first road sweep of the season.
The Dodgers dropped a 3-0 decision to San Francisco on Sunday night, the 15th time they have been shut out this season.
Los Angeles hitters struck out 13 times against Jonathan Sanchez (nine), Sergio Romo (two) and Brian Wilson (two) and now have to face Padres ace Mat Latos on Monday.
Latos leads the National League with a 2.25 ERA and is the hardest starting pitcher in the majors to hit. Opponents are batting just .193 against the right-hander.
However, Latos is 0-1 with a no-decision against the Dodgers this season despite giving up just three earned runs and six hits in 11 innings.
Of course, there have been a lot of well-pitched outings in which Latos (13-5) has failed to earn a victory. The hurler has allowed two earned runs or less in 14 straight starts, a feat last accomplished by Greg Maddux over the 1993-94 seasons.
The Padres have been concerned over Latos’ inning count – he’s at 155 2/3 entering Monday’s start – and have pulled him prematurely several times.
Latos has struck out 35 batters and allowed just 19 hits and four walks in 26 innings over his last four starts but only has one victory during that span. Latos allowed just five runs in those four outings.
Vicente Padilla (6-4, 3.96 ERA) will start for the Dodgers after a three-week stint on the disabled list due to a bulging disc in his neck.
Padilla tossed a gem against San Diego on Aug. 4, blanking the Padres on two hits while striking out nine.