Dodgers at Padres (Game 2)
The Los Angeles Dodgers have ended their season-worst slide and look to add two wins to their major league-best total when they visit the San Diego Padres for a doubleheader on Saturday. The Dodgers halted their five-game losing streak with a 1-0 triumph on Friday in the opener of the four-game series to improve their stellar record to 92-41.
Clayton Kershaw (back) allowed two hits in six innings in his first appearance since July 23 as Los Angeles' pitchers combined for 13 strikeouts. Chris Taylor is filling in at shortstop for Corey Seager, who is limited to pinch-hitting duties due to an elbow injury, and notched two hits as he is 6-for-17 during his four-game hitting streak. Wil Myers struck out twice in three hitless at-bats for San Diego as his home-run drought reached 18 games. Austin Hedges also is struggling through a 3-for-22 funk over his last seven contests.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FSN San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Yu Darvish (8-10, 3.88 ERA) vs. Padres RH Jordan Lyles (0-2, 6.94)
Darvish is 2-1 in four starts since being acquired from Texas and lost to Milwaukee in his last turn, when he gave up three runs and six hits over five innings. The 31-year-old has recorded 29 strikeouts in 23 frames with Los Angeles, including 10 in each of his first two outings. Darvish is 1-0 with a 3.23 ERA in two career starts against the Padres - the most-recent one occurring on May 10, when he gave up three runs and seven hits over six innings in a no-decision as a member of the Rangers.
Lyles was recalled from Triple-A El Paso to make his San Diego debut and is starting for the first time this season after making 33 relief appearances for Colorado. "He was throwing the ball well at the end in El Paso," Padres manager Andy Green told reporters. "We definitely need somebody to come up here and take down some innings for us and give us an opportunity to win games, and he fits that description perfectly." The 26-year-old Lyles is 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA in 13 career appearances (five starts) versus the Dodgers.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Dodgers are 10-3 against the Padres this season, including a 5-1 record at Petco Park.
2. Prized OF prospect Alex Verdugo was recalled by Los Angeles, and the 21-year-old went 0-for-3 in his major-league debut.
3. San Diego fired hitting coach Alan Zinter, who was nearing completion of his second season on the job.