San Diego @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Aug 26, 2018 ) San Diego 3, LA Dodgers 7

The Los Angeles Dodgers are riding a giant wave of momentum after sweeping the Colorado Rockies to move into first place in the National League West. The Dodgers will try to build on their division advantage and avoid a letdown when they continue a homestand by welcoming the last-place San Diego Padres for the opener of a three-game series Friday.

Los Angeles was a half-game back in the division before sweeping a three-game set from the Rockies in dramatic fashion, capped by Wednesday's 5-2 triumph that featured a tiebreaking, pinch-hit home run in the seventh inning from Yasiel Puig. "First of all, this game, this series was emblematic of our ballclub and how many people had their hands in this to help win three games," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts told reporters. "Yasiel, to be able to put him in that leverage spot and to be prepared for that moment and to come through was huge, obviously." The Padres haven't done much to stop Los Angeles' ascent while dropping 12 of the first 16 meetings and stumble into the current series with losses in four of their last six contests. San Diego will send rookie left-hander Eric Lauer to the mound Friday opposite Dodgers veteran lefty Rich Hill.


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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Eric Lauer (5-7, 4.74 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Rich Hill (9-5, 4.02)

Lauer is winless in his last six starts and failed to record an out in the sixth inning of any of those outings. The 23-year-old was solid in his last three appearances, allowing a total of two earned runs and five hits while striking out 14 in 14 innings. Lauer's last win came against the Dodgers on July 10, when he scattered one run and four hits over 8 2/3 innings with eight strikeouts.

Hill earned the win in each of his last three outings but got plenty of help from his offense while allowing a total of 12 runs in 16 innings. The Boston native works his way out of trouble by racking up strikeouts and punched out 46 in 33 innings over his last six starts. Hill breezed through six scoreless innings against San Diego on Aug. 24, yielding two hits and walking one while striking out eight in a win.

WALK-OFFS

1. Padres SS Freddy Galvis is 10-for-20 with six runs scored and five RBIs in his last five games.

2. Puig is 12-for-23 with six home runs and 12 RBIs in his last seven contests.

3. Los Angeles INF Max Muncy drew 11 walks and scored seven runs in his last seven games.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 6, Padres 2