Los Angeles @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Jun 5, 2013 ) San Diego 6, LA Dodgers 2

The San Diego Padres have been streaking up the standings lately but ran into some trouble at San Francisco earlier in the week. The Padres are more comfortable at home and will be looking to post their seventh straight win at Petco Park when they host the opener of a four-game series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday. The Dodgers will be dealing with some fatigue after playing a doubleheader in New York on Wednesday.

After winning the opener from the Giants on Monday to run its winning streak to seven games, San Diego could not muster enough offense to take either of the final two in the series. That offense has taken a hit without leadoff man Everth Cabrera (hamstring), who went on the disabled list on Wednesday and has not played since last weekend. Los Angeles, which split its doubleheader against the Yankees, has dropped seven of its last 10 games.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, KCAL (Dodgers), Fox Sports San Diego

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Stephen Fife (1-2, 3.74 ERA) vs. Padres RH Jason Marquis (9-2, 3.63)

Fife has made four starts since being summoned from the minors and has allowed a total of five earned runs over the last three. The 26-year-old has been hurt by poor run support in that span, with the Los Angeles offense generating a total of three runs. Fife’s lone win came over the Padres on June 3, when he allowed one run on five hits in 5 1/3 innings.

Marquis has put together three straight wins in as many quality starts. The veteran right-hander has issued 47 walks in 84 1/3 total innings but has been able to limit the damage and has not suffered a loss since April 22. Marquis has already made three starts against Los Angeles in 2013, going 2-0 with a 2.37 ERA and 16 strikeouts in 19 total innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Dodgers SS Hanley Ramirez went 6-for-8 with a home run and four RBIs in Wednesday’s doubleheader.

2. San Diego LF Carlos Quentin (shoulder) has been sidelined since Friday and remains day-to-day.

3. Los Angeles rookie Yasiel Puig has recorded multiple hits in three straight games to lift his average to .474.

PREDICTION: Padres 7, Dodgers 5