The Los Angeles Dodgers took two of three from the San Francisco Giants and now begin their final regular-season series at Dodger Stadium. At 99-57, the Dodgers can reach the 100-win threshold for the first time since the 1974 club won 102 games.
That stands as the Los Angeles franchise record for most wins in a single season, while the overall best mark is 105 wins by the 1953 Brooklyn team. The Dodgers would need to go undefeated to match that, and 4-2 to set a new Los Angeles record.
Yu Darvish is on the mound for what may be his final full start prior to the regular season concluding this weekend. Darvish has worked in recent weeks to improve his mechanics and delivery, and said after last week’s start that he was in a good place.
Darvish limited the Philadelphia Phillies to just one unearned run on four hits and a walk in 5.1 innings pitched, while striking out seven in a no-decision.
In a Sept. 2 start against the San Diego Padres, the right-hander came unraveled in the third inning and suffered the loss. In just three-plus innings pitched, he surrendered five runs on eight hits and walked three.
Darvish has been shaky at Dodger Stadium since joining the team, going 0-2 and allowing 11 runs on 19 hits and six walks in 15.1 innings across three starts. He’s only allowed an unearned run and seven hits in his last 12.1 innings at home, however.
In eight overall starts with the Dodgers, Darvish is 3-3 with a 3.80 ERA, 111 ERA+ and 1.29 WHIP.
The Padres, who are 5-3 in their last eight games, have long shifted their attention toward the 2018 season. One success story to come out of the situation is starter Travis Wood. The southpaw began the season with the Kansas City Royals, before joining the Padres in late July.
Since then, he has battled in the starting rotation and put up impressive results during his 10 outings. His previous start came at Petco Park, where Wood limited the Arizona Diamondbacks to just two runs on three hits during a 6-2 victory.
Wood has yet to face the Dodgers during his brief stint with the Padres, but the eight-year veteran has 11 career appearances against the team, with a positive track record. Entering Monday’s series opener, Wood is 5-2 with a 4.23 ERA and 1.46 WHIP against Los Angeles.
Wood has impressed at Dodger Stadium, where he permitted just three runs (two earned) off 12 hits and eight walks in 16.2 innings pitched and gone 3-0.
Andre Ethier is 3-for-9 against Wood, with two doubles, two walks and an RBI. Yasiel Puig, who was benched for Sunday’s series finale, is 4-for-7 against the southpaw, with an RBI and two walks.
Puig was scheduled to be in Monday’s lineup but arrived late for an early round of batting practice, and has been benched a second consecutive night.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Chris Taylor
SS: Corey Seager
RF: Kiké Hernandez
LF: Cody Bellinger
3B: Logan Forsythe
2B: Austin Barnes
C: Yasmani Grandal
1B: Rob Segedin
P: Yu Darvish
Padres lineup:
2B: Carlos Asuaje
SS: Erick Aybar
1B: Wil Myers
3B: Yangervis Solarte
LF: Cory Spangenberg
RF: Hunter Renfroe
CF: Travis Jankowski
C: Austin Hedges
P: Travis Wood
