Padres at Dodgers
When the San Diego Padres continue their three-game series against the host Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday, they may want to consider pitching around Matt Kemp. The Dodgers outfielder is 15-for-26 with four home runs and 12 RBIs in seven games this season against his former team, including a three-run blast in Friday’s 4-1 win.
Ross Stripling pitched into the seventh inning Friday and registered a career-high 10 strikeouts for the Dodgers, who have won seven of their last eight games since losing six in a row against last-place teams Cincinnati and Miami. The club’s resurgence can be traced in part to the return of third baseman Justin Turner, who missed 40 games with a broken wrist but has reached base safely in eight of his first 10 contests. San Diego fell 10 games under .500 despite a 3-for-4 performance by Jose Pirela, who has hit safely in six of his last seven games. Franchy Cordero went 0-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts in Friday’s loss and has recorded just one multi-hit effort while batting .225 with one homer and six RBIs in 71 at-bats this month.
TV: 10:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, FS San Diego, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Jordan Lyles (1-1, 3.11 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Alex Wood (1-4, 3.32)
In his first start since tossing 7 2/3 perfect innings against Milwaukee, Lyles gave up four runs over 5 2/3 frames in a no-decision against Pittsburgh on Sunday. The 27-year-old began the season in the bullpen and did not allow a run in 10 of his 13 appearances. Chase Utley is 7-for-16 against Lyles, who is 0-3 with a 6.97 ERA in 15 career games (six starts) versus Los Angeles - including a 6.55 ERA in six contests (one start) last season.
Wood allowed two runs and three hits in Sunday’s 7-2 win over Washington but exited the game in the seventh inning due to left leg cramps. The 27-year-old native of North Carolina has pitched well this month, going 1-1 with a 2.05 ERA in four starts covering 22 innings. Freddy Galvis is 7-for-19 against Wood, who owns a 4-2 record and 2.39 ERA in 13 career games (nine starts) versus San Diego.
WALK-OFFS
1. Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (biceps) is scheduled to throw four innings in a simulated game on Saturday.
2. The Padres are 2-25 when trailing after six frames.
3. Los Angeles RHP Kenley Jansen converted his ninth straight save opportunity Friday with a scoreless ninth inning.