Los Angeles @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 10, 2013 ) LA Dodgers 4, San Diego 3

The San Diego Padres are hoping to have slugger Carlos Quentin back in the lineup for Thursday’s series finale against the visiting Los Angeles Dodgers, who have won four of their last five games. Quentin missed Wednesday’s 4-3 loss with a sore right wrist after he was hit by a Ronald Belisario pitch Tuesday. It appears Quentin will avoid the disabled list, which is a huge relief for the Padres, who have scored three or fewer runs in six of their eight games.

The Dodgers’ starting pitchers boast a major league-low 1.73 ERA, and received a boost when Chad Billingsley tossed six strong innings in his season debut Wednesday. Center fielder Matt Kemp went 2-for-5 and recorded his first multi-hit game of the season, but the Dodgers’ offense remains stuck in neutral. Los Angeles is 0-for-11 with the bases loaded this season, and the team is batting .155 (11-for-71) with runners in scoring position.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, Fox Sports Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), Fox Sports San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Zack Greinke (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Padres RH Jason Marquis (0-1, 3.00)

Greinke was dealing with elbow issues during spring training, but appeared completely healthy in his Dodgers debut Friday against the Pirates. Greinke tossed 6 1/3 scoreless innings while giving up two hits with no walks and six strikeouts. Quentin is 6-for-24 with three homers against Greinke, who has made one start in his career against the Padres, pitching six solid innings for Milwaukee on May 9, 2011. The 29-year-old Greinke has posted double-digit wins in five consecutive seasons, and he hasn’t committed an error since July 16, 2000.

Marquis turned in a shaky season debut, allowing five runs (two earned) on six hits and one walk over six innings Friday at Colorado. The remodeled Petco Park’s shortened fences could negatively impact Marquis, who pitched well at home last season. Andre Ethier is 3-for-24 against Marquis, and Kemp has two hits in 17 at-bats with five strikeouts. The 34-year-old is 6-4 with a 2.58 ERA in 15 career games (14 starts) against the Dodgers. In five starts against Los Angeles away from Dodger Stadium, he’s gone 2-1 with a 2.70 ERA.

WALK-OFFS

1. Padres 3B Chase Headley (thumb) has started taking batting practice and hopes to return by early May.

2. Dodgers INF Luis Cruz went 2-for-5 on Wednesday after going hitless in his first 17 at-bats.

3. Padres RF Will Venable has been successful on each of his last 18 stolen base attempts since June 22, 2012.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 8, Padres 4