Los Angeles @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 24, 2019 ) LA Dodgers 6, San Diego 3

The Los Angeles Dodgers clinched home-field advantage throughout the National League playoffs on Tuesday and received a spark from struggling closer Kenley Jansen, who recorded his 31st save. Jansen and the Dodgers look to maintain their momentum Wednesday, when they continue their three-game series against the host San Diego Padres.

Max Muncy belted his first career grand slam in Tuesday’s 6-3 victory to help the Dodgers (101-56) secure home-field advantage after NL East champion Atlanta lost earlier in the evening. Joc Pederson also went deep in the win and is batting .326 with six homers and 11 RBIs in his last 18 games, but rookie Will Smith went 0-for-3 and has just five hits in 47 at-bats this month. The Padres lost for the 10th time in 12 games and fell to 1-2 under Rod Barajas, who took over following the firing of manager Andy Green on Saturday. Hunter Renfroe is batting .218 after going 0-for-4 on Tuesday and has hit just six of his 33 homers since the All-Star break.

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

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Ross Stripling (4-4, 3.32 ERA) vs. Padres RH Dinelson Lamet (3-5, 3.84)

Stripling is expected to serve as the "opener" on Wednesday after tossing two scoreless innings of relief against Tampa Bay last Tuesday. The 29-year-old will operate as a reliever in the postseason after recording an 85-to-19 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 30 games (14 starts) across 86 2/3 innings this season. Eric Hosmer has recorded one hit in 12 at-bats against Stripling, who is 4-5 with a 3.19 ERA in 14 career games (six starts) versus San Diego.

Lamet registered a career-high 14 strikeouts and allowed one run over six innings in last Wednesday’s 2-1 victory over Milwaukee. The 27-year-old missed the entire 2018 campaign after undergoing Tommy John surgery but has fanned 95 batters over 68 frames in 13 starts this season. Lamet is 0-3 with a 4.50 ERA in three career starts versus the Dodgers while limiting Cody Bellinger to one hit with four strikeouts in seven at-bats.

WALK-OFFS

1. Dodgers SS Corey Seager has gone 16-for-35 with two homers and eight RBIs during his nine-game hitting streak.

2. The Padres are one victory shy of 400 all-time against the Dodgers.

3. Los Angeles RHP Joe Kelly has been out since last Wednesday due to a lower-body injury but could return this weekend.

PREDICTION: Dodgers 5, Padres 4