Los Angeles @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 15, 2013 ) LA Dodgers 7, San Diego 8

When the San Diego Padres face the Los Angeles Dodgers in their home opener on Tuesday, they’ll discover a reconfigured Petco Park designed to generate more offense. Cynics might suggest the Padres’ lineup could use some remodeling as well. San Diego is off to the sixth-worst start in franchise history at 1-5 after being outscored 40-14 during the first week. They won’t catch any breaks against the Dodgers, who are coming off a three-game sweep of the Pirates.

The fences at Petco Park have been shortened an average of 10 feet, and not a minute too soon for the home team. San Diego has hit one home run in its first six games, and slugging third baseman Chase Headley (thumb) isn’t due back for three more weeks. The news is more promising in Los Angeles, where left fielder Carl Crawford is hitting .450 and cleanup hitter Adrian Gonzalez had four RBIs on Sunday. Matt Kemp is off to a slow start, however, with two hits in his first 20 at-bats. Gonzalez, a former San Diego All-Star, is 7-for-8 against Richard and 19-for-39 against his former club.

TV: 6:40 p.m. ET, KCAL (Los Angeles), Fox Sports San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Josh Beckett (0-1, 4.50 ERA) vs. Padres LH Clayton Richard (0-1, 14.54 ERA)

Beckett took the loss in his season debut last Wednesday against the Giants, allowing five runs (three earned) over six innings. He struggled during spring training, but Beckett left his first start feeling optimistic. “I felt I was getting on top of the ball better than the last couple spring starts," he told reporters. Carlos Quentin is 2-for-11 with five strikeouts against Beckett, who is 5-2 with a 2.09 ERA in seven career starts against the Padres. Acquired last August in a blockbuster trade with Boston, Beckett is 2-2 with a 2.73 ERA in four career starts at Petco Park.

Richard, who led the National League with 31 homers allowed last season, gave up three homers in 4 1/3 innings in his start last Wednesday against the Mets. He was pulled after allowing eight runs (seven earned) on seven hits. Kemp is 12-for-32 (.375) against Richard, who is 6-3 with a 3.16 ERA in 13 career starts against the Dodgers. He made six starts against the Dodgers last year, going 2-2 with a 3.79 ERA. Known as a quick worker, the 29-year-old Richard has a 19-16 career record at Petco Park with a 2.82 ERA in 45 starts.

WALK-OFFS

1. The Dodgers were 11-7 against the Padres last season, including 6-3 at Petco Park.

2. San Diego is 22-22 all-time in the first home game of the season.

3. Padres C Nick Hundley has two hits in his first 15 at-bats with six strikeouts.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 6, Padres 3