San Diego @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 21, 2018 ) San Diego 5, LA Dodgers 3

The Los Angeles Dodgers saw their lead in the National League West reduced by a game after losing the opener of their three-game series against the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers will attempt to remain at least 1 1/2 games ahead of Colorado in the division when they host the Padres on Saturday for the middle contest of the set.

Friday's setback was only Los Angeles' second in nine games as the club stranded 10 baserunners. Manny Machado went 1-for-5 in the defeat and is just 5-for-30 over his last seven contests. San Diego has been showing life down the stretch with six wins in 10 games and has scored five or more runs in five of those victories. Hunter Renfroe belted a two-run homer in the series opener and has slugged 16 of his 24 shots since Aug. 5.

TV: 9:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Jacob Nix (2-3, 5.75 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Rich Hill (9-5, 4.02)

Nix is winless in his last three starts, posting a horrid 7.88 ERA during that stretch. The 22-year-old rookie has allowed a total of one run over 14 1/3 innings in his two victories. Nix has struck out as many as five just once but also has issued fewer than three walks in each of his seven major-league starts.

Hill has won three consecutive starts and seven of his last eight decisions. The 38-year-old has recorded at least seven strikeouts in each of his last six turns despite not working more than six innings in any of the outings. Hill, who gave up two hits over six scoreless frames against the Padres on Aug. 24, is 1-1 with a 2.77 ERA in two starts this season and 5-4 with a 3.09 ERA in 10 career meetings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Padres 3B-LF Wil Myers went 2-for-4 with two RBIs in the series opener for his fourth two-hit performance of the month.

2. Los Angeles LF Matt Kemp was hitless in four at-bats on Friday but is batting .390 with four homers and 15 RBIs against the Padres this season.

3. San Diego SS Freddy Galvis hit his 13th homer on Friday, the fifth-most in franchise history among shortstops behind Khalil Greene (15 or more, four times).

PREDICTION: Dodgers 5, Padres 2