Los Angeles @ San Diego preview
PETCO Park
Last Meeting ( Apr 1, 2014 ) LA Dodgers 3, San Diego 2
Even after tying their three-game road series with the San Diego Padres, the Los Angeles Dodgers may not be feeling all that good about themselves. The Dodgers, who look to take the rubber game on Wednesday, announced Tuesday that ace Clayton Kershaw (muscle strain) would miss at least a month and placed reliever Brian Wilson (right elbow nerve irritation) on the disabled list. Yasiel Puig made it all better later that night, belting a 410-foot two-run homer to propel Los Angeles to a 3-2 win.
“If either (Kershaw or Wilson is) out a long time, it’s going to be tough. Those are two guys we want to be part of this,” Dodgers starter Zack Greinke told the Orange County Register after Tuesday’s victory. The back end of the bullpen continued to struggle, however, as closer Kenley Jansen wiggled out of a bases-loaded jam in the ninth inning one day after Wilson was tagged for three runs in Sunday’s loss to San Diego. Padres outfielder Seth Smith, who was acquired from the Oakland Athletics in the offseason, continued to pay dividends with his second solo home run in as many games against Los Angeles.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, SportsNet Los Angeles, FSN San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Dan Haren (2013: 10-14, 4.67 ERA) vs. Padres RH Tyson Ross (2013: 3-8, 3.17)
The 2013 season was a bit of a tale of two halves for Haren, who he carried a 6.15 ERA in 15 starts with the Washington Nationals before he was diagnosed with right shoulder inflammation. The three-time All-Star returned with a vengeance, posting a 3.29 ERA in his final 15 starts (and one relief appearance). Haren, who is 5-4 with a 3.84 ERA in 16 career appearances (15 starts) against San Diego, was roughed up for six runs over two innings in his final exhibition outing versus the Los Angeles Angels.
Ross joined the rotation on a full-time basis following the All-Star break and excelled, going 3-4 with a 2.93 ERA in 13 starts while limiting hitters to a .201 average. The 26-year-old went 0-1 in September despite a 3.48 ERA in large part because the offense scored two runs or fewer in four of his six turns. Ross only faced the Dodgers once as a starter last year, allowing one run while striking out 10 over five frames in a no-decision on Sept. 1.
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles’ starters have posted a 1.14 ERA over 23 2/3 innings while its bullpen has recorded a 5.58 ERA in 11 1/3 frames.
2. With his homer on Tuesday, Smith joined Adrian Gonzalez, Brian Giles and Fred McGriff as the only Padres to go deep in each of their first two season-opening games.
3. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly hinted that CF Matt Kemp (ankle) is on track to rejoin the team for Friday’s home opener against the San Francisco Giants.
PREDICTION: Dodgers 4, Padres 3