San Diego @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 12, 2018 ) LA Dodgers 3, San Diego 2

The return of closer Kenley Jansen has failed to provide a stabilizing effect on the skidding Los Angeles Dodgers, who attempt to get back on track against the National League's worst team. The Dodgers had a day off to regroup from a sweep by visiting St. Louis and look to bounce back in Friday's opener of a three-game home set versus the San Diego Padres.

Jansen was victimized in each of his last two appearances after coming off the disabled due to an irregular heartbeat, giving up a pair of solo homers in the ninth in Monday's defeat before serving up a two-run blast in Wednesday's loss to St. Louis. "Very frustrating. Got to figure out how to get back out of this mess," said Jansen after Los Angeles fell to 3-9 over its last 12 games. While the Dodgers are 3 1/2 games out of the second wild card and 4 1/2 behind first-place Arizona in the NL West, the Padres are 30 games below .500 and nestled in last place in the division. San Diego was one out from a series win at Colorado on Thursday before Ian Desmond delivered a walk-off, two-run homer to send the Padres to their eighth loss in 10 games.

TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, SportsNet LA

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Clayton Richard (7-10, 5.11 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Rich Hill (5-4, 3.73)

Since winning his first four starts in June, Richard has gone 10 consecutive outings without a victory, including no-decisions in his last four appearances. He failed to pitch past five innings for the fifth time in six starts last out time, giving up five runs and nine hits to Arizona. Matt Kemp is 15-for-38 with three homers off Richard, who pitched six innings of four-run ball in a loss to the Dodgers on May 25.

Hill pitched at least six innings for the fifth time in six starts since the All-Star break at Seattle on Saturday, but did not factor in the decision after allowing four runs and four hits. He permitted a combined six earned runs in his previous five turns, compiling a 3-0 record in that span. Hill's last loss came in San Diego on July 10, when he gave up four runs and eight hits in a season high-tying seven innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Los Angeles, which hasn't had a losing record at home since 2005, is 32-33 at Dodger Stadium.

2. Padres 3B Christian Villanueva (fractured finger) went on the 10-day disabled list

3. Dodgers OF Joc Pederson homered Wednesday but is mired in a 2-for-26 slump.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 5, Padres 3