Dodgers at Padres
The worst team in the National League faces the squad with the best record in the majors when the San Diego Padres host the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday. San Diego is just 13-24 after beating Stephen Strasburg and the Washington Nationals on Tuesday. The Padres beat Strasburg just days after knocking off Philadelphia ace Roy Halladay for the second time this season.
Los Angeles (24-12) had a five-game winning streak snapped Tuesday. The Dodgers are 13-5 against NL West division rivals entering the two-game series with the Padres after falling to Arizona. Los Angeles scored just four runs in a two-game series with the Diamondbacks while playing without center fielder Matt Kemp, who went on the disabled list with a hamstring injury. Los Angeles is 6-1 against the Padres this season.
TV: 6:35 p.m. ET, KCAL (Los Angeles), Fox Sports San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Chris Capuano (5-0, 2.06 ERA) vs. Padres LH Clayton Richard (1-5, 5.32 ERA)
Capuano has been a huge surprise, allowing just two runs while winning four consecutive starts. He has allowed two earned runs or less in six of his seven starts. Capuano gave up a season-high four runs against the Padres in his first start of the season while taking a no-decision. He is 4-2 with a 4.04 ERA in nine career appearances (eight starts) against San Diego.
Richard has lost five consecutive starts and has given up eight or more hits in four of them. He has allowed seven homers and allowed two in his last outing when he gave up five runs in 5 1/3 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Richard’s only victory of the season came when he allowed two unearned run on two hits in seven innings against the Dodgers. He had a no-decision against Los Angeles five days later when he gave up eight runs (four earned) in six innings. Richard is 5-1 with a 2.63 ERA in nine career starts against the Dodgers.
WALK-OFFS:
1. Los Angeles catcher A.J. Ellis had two hits Tuesday and has reached base in 25 consecutive games.
2. The Padres are last in the majors with 14 homers.
3. Dodgers outfielder Andre Ethier is batting just .143 in 21 career at-bats against Richard.