Padres at Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are starting to turn things around after a disastrous start to the season and it appears that facing better teams has elevated their play. The Dodgers will look to make it three series wins in a row for the first time this season when they host the San Diego Padres on Friday night in the opener of a three-game set.
Since losing six in a row against last-place teams Cincinnati and Miami, Los Angeles has won six of its last seven, following a three-game sweep at Washington by taking two of three from National League West-leading Colorado. "You can see the energy in the clubhouse," said Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen. "Everybody's like, we're going to get out of this. Things are finally starting to go our way." San Diego, which lost seven in a row to Los Angeles before winning two straight earlier this month, avoided a sweep by taking the finale in Washington to improve to 4-3 on its 10-game road trip. "You look back at this road trip, and I know we continue in (Los Angeles) but we're heading back to the West Coast with an off day," Padres manager Andy Green said. "It's a good 4-3 East Coast swing for us."
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, FS San Diego, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Clayton Richard (3-5, 4.87 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Ross Stripling (1-1, 2.08)
Richard answered a five-start winless drought (0-4) by winning his last two trips to the mound, allowing two runs over 7 1/3 innings at Pittsburgh after limiting St. Louis to two runs and five hits over eight frames. The 34-year-old became the first San Diego pitcher to work into the eighth inning in three straight starts since 2005. Matt Kemp (13-for-35), Justin Turner (9-for-19) and Yasiel Puig (7-for-19) have lit up Richard.
Making his fourth start of the season at Washington on Saturday, Stripling gave an injury-ravaged rotation a boost by striking out a season-high nine batters while allowing one run on four hits over six innings. He faced San Diego in Mexico on May 6, yielding four hits and fanning five over four scoreless innings. In his last three starts, Stripling has allowed three runs with 21 strikeouts and two walks in 15 1/3 innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Turner is 10-for-33 in nine games since making his season debut.
2. Padres 1B Eric Hosmer has hit safely in 10 of his last 12 games.
3. Puig has hit all his five homers in his last nine games and recorded five RBIs in his last three.