Dodgers at Padres
Los Angeles Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal appears intent on making sure his former team regrets letting him go three years ago. The red-hot Grandal is riding a seven-game hitting streak for the Dodgers, who aim for a three-game sweep of the host San Diego Padres on Wednesday.
Grandal belted a grand slam as part of a five-RBI effort as the Dodgers rolled to a 10-3 victory on Monday and followed that up with a two-run double in the 12th inning of Tuesday’s 7-3 victory. The 29-year-old, who spent three seasons in San Diego, has 13 home runs and 33 RBI in 41 games against the Padres since being traded to Los Angeles prior to the 2015 season. One concern for the Dodgers remains the performance of Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen, who blew his second save Tuesday in the ninth inning when Eric Hosmer homered and pinch hitter Chase Headley doubled in a run to force extra innings. Headley began the season as the Padres’ regular third baseman but has been replaced by Christian Villanueva, who is batting .327 with six home runs.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FS San Diego
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Kenta Maeda (1-1, 2.08 ERA) vs. Padres RH Luis Perdomo (1-1, 4.91)
Making his first start in 13 days, Maeda allowed five runs (two earned) on five hits and two walks over 2 2/3 innings against Arizona last Friday. The 30-year-old tossed five shutout innings in his season debut against San Francisco on March 31 but was moved to the bullpen when the Dodgers had multiple off-days and a rainout. Freddy Galvis is 5-for-9 with a homer against Maeda, who is 3-3 with a 4.50 ERA in nine games (eight starts) against the Padres.
Perdomo was originally scheduled to start Monday but had his outing pushed back while serving a five-game suspension. The 24-year-old threw two scoreless innings against Colorado last Wednesday but received an early ejection after sparking a benches-clearing brawl by hitting Nolan Arenado. Perdomo is 1-4 with an 8.40 ERA in seven games (four starts) against the Dodgers and has struggled to contain Corey Seager, who has seven hits in 18 at-bats.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Dodgers optioned INF Breyvic Valera to Triple-A Oklahoma City and selected the contract of UTL Max Muncy.
2. The Padres optioned Kyle McGrath to Triple-A El Paso and recalled fellow LHP Tyler Webb.
3. Dodgers INF Chase Utley was hit by a pitch for the 200th time in his career on Tuesday.