Dodgers at Padres
Coming off a last-place finish in the National League West, San Diego faces yet another uphill climb after dropping its first two games against the Dodgers. The Padres committed three errors in the opener and then managed only three hits in Friday’s 6-0 loss. They’ll try to get back on track in the third of a four-game series against the Dodgers, who have won 15 of the last 20 meetings and seven of the last 10 at Petco Park.
Five players in San Diego’s lineup have yet to record a hit, including third baseman Chase Headley, who is 0-for-7 with five strikeouts. The Padres, who scored the second-fewest runs in the National League in 2011, struck out 11 times against Dodgers starter Chad Billingsley and failed to reach base between the fifth and eighth innings.
TV: 8:35 p.m. ET, Prime Ticket (Los Angeles), FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Chris Capuano (2011: 11-12, 4.55 ERA) vs. Padres RH Dustin Moseley (2011: 3-10, 3.30 ERA)
Capuano signed a two-year deal with the Dodgers in the off-season after spending the previous year with the Mets, where he went 11-12 with a 4.55 ERA in 31 starts. He is 4-2 with a 3.65 ERA in eight games against the Padres, but both losses have come at Petco Park. Capuano became more of a power pitcher last year, striking out 8.19 batters per nine innings, the highest of his career.
Moseley, meanwhile, will be making his first start since July 26 after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder. He had a career-best 3.30 ERA in 2011, but was a victim of poor run support as the Padres scored two runs or less in 11 of his 20 starts. The right-hander is 1-1 with a 1.20 ERA in four appearances - two starts - against the Dodgers.
WALK-OFFS
1. San Diego hasn’t started 0-3 since the 2003.
2. Andre Ethier, who went 2-for-4 with four RBIs Friday, hit .381 with four home runs and 11 RBIs in 15 games against the Padres in 2011.
3. Moseley received zero runs of support in his first three April outings last year, which included a 4-0 home loss to the Dodgers.