San Diego @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 22, 2018 ) San Diego 2, LA Dodgers 7

One day after setting the franchise record for home runs in a single season, the Los Angeles Dodgers look to move a step closer to their sixth consecutive division title when they face the visiting San Diego Padres on Sunday in the rubber match of their three-game series. Manny Machado belted a three-run homer in Saturday’s 7-2 win as the Dodgers remained 1 1/2 games ahead of Colorado in the National League West.

Yasmani Grandal and Joc Pederson also went deep while Rich Hill tossed seven strong innings for Los Angeles, which won for the eighth time in 10 contests and improved to 19-9 since Aug. 24. Machado entered the contest in a 5-for-30 slump but crushed a three-run shot in the third inning for the Dodgers, who have hit 222 homers with seven games to play. San Diego has lost five of its last eight despite the play of Hunter Renfroe, who has homered in back-to-back games and recorded eight extra-base hits in his last 14 contests. Rookie Franmil Reyes went 0-for-4 in Saturday’s loss, ending his career-high 12-game hitting streak.

TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Joey Lucchesi (8-8, 3.74 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (5-3, 2.18)

Lucchesi came away without a decision against San Francisco on Tuesday after yielding three runs and seven hits over five innings. One of just 20 rookies to have reached the 20-start plateau in franchise history, the 25-year-old has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 12 of his 15 outings since June 20. Enrique Hernandez is 3-for-6 with a home run against Lucchesi, who is 0-2 with a 5.00 ERA in two starts versus the Dodgers.

Ryu turned in one of his best outings of the season on Monday, tossing seven scoreless innings in an 8-2 victory over Colorado. “He’s always been a big-game pitcher, and I’ve seen it from the other side,” Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts told reporters. “He was in complete command and his stuff was really good. It was good to see.” Ryu is 6-1 with a 2.52 ERA in nine career starts versus San Diego – including a 2-0 record and 2.31 mark in two outings this season.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles is 13-5 against San Diego this season – including 6-2 at Dodger Stadium.

2. The Padres are 4-78 when trailing after seven innings.

3. The Dodgers open a three-game series at Arizona on Monday and will start Clayton Kershaw, Walker Buehler and Ross Stripling, in that order.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 6, Padres 3