The Los Angeles Dodgers haven’t found any comfort at home, as they’re in the midst of a six-game losing streak and have lost consecutive series to National League opponents. Despite the skid, Los Angeles enters play on Sunday tied for first place in the NL West.
The Dodgers’ six-game losing streak is their longest since an eight-game slide in May 2013. The losing skid at home is their longest since losing six in a row in June 2011. The Dodgers have not lost seven consecutive home games since August 1993.
A win on Sunday will ensure the Dodgers don’t suffer a seventh overall winless homestand since moving to Dodger Stadium in 1962. They figure to be in good position to get a win with Clayton Kershaw on the mound.
The left-handed ace was putting together another strong outing in his last start, only to come unraveled a bit in the sixth inning against the Miami Marlins. On the season, Kershaw is 2-1 with a 2.43 ERA, 2.27 FIP and 0.81 WHIP.
He’s made 28 career starts against the Padres. In those outings, Kershaw is 13-6 with a 2.16 ERA and 1.07 WHIP. The Dodgers’ ace last saw San Diego on Opening Day at Petco Park. Kershaw tossed seven scoreless innings and collected nine innings in a Dodgers win.
San Diego looks to sweep the Dodgers behind left-hander Drew Pomeranz. The 27 year old has provided some stability thus far, not allowing more than three earned runs in any of his four starts.
For the season, Pomeranz is 2-2 with a 2.86 ERA and 1.31 WHIP. In six career appearances (four starts) against the Dodgers, Pomeranz is 0-3 with a 5.49 ERA and 1.78 WHIP. He faced Los Angeles twice last season during his time with the Oakland Athletics.
One was a relief appearance in which Pomeranz earned a save. The other was a rocky seventh inning when Pomeranz allowed three runs on three hits without recording an out. He faces a Dodgers lineup that has Yasiel Puig batting leadoff for the first time this season.
Adrian Gonzalez and Corey Seager are the lone left-handed batters in the lineup to face the southpaw. Gonzalez is 0-for-17 with seven strikeouts on the homestand. A.J. Ellis starts behind the plate.
Dodgers lineup:
RF: Yasiel Puig
LF: Kiké Hernandez
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
3B: Justin Turner
2B: Howie Kendrick
CF: Trayce Thompson
SS: Corey Seager
C: A.J. Ellis
P: Clayton Kershaw
Padres lineup:
CF: Jon Jay
1B: Wil Myers
RF: Matt Kemp
LF: Melvin Upton Jr.
C: Derek Norris
SS: Alexei Ramirez
3B: Adam Rosales
2B: Jemile Weeks
P: Drew Pomeranz
