After posting a perfect 6-0 record on their first homestand of the regular season, the Los Angeles Dodgers travel south to take on the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
Both teams enter Friday’s opener with the top-2 win totals in the National League and are separated by just 2.5 games in the standings. Walker Buehler takes the mound for the Dodgers and looks to build on an excellent start against the Washington Nationals.
He picked up his first win of the season after tossing six shutout innings in the Dodgers’ home opener last Friday. Through two starts, Buehler has posted a minuscule 1.50 ERA, 2.88 FIP and 0.83 WHIP with eight strikeouts and no walks in 12 innings.
The 26-year-old historically has dominated the Padres, as he carries with him into Friday’s start a 4-0 record, 1.36 ERA and 0.73 WHIP in 33 innings (five starts). He additionally owns a lifetime 2.45 ERA in two starts at Petco Park.
Those numbers don’t include Buehler’s start against the Padres in Game 1 of the 2020 NL Division Series. In four innings pitched, he allowed just one run on two hits with eight strikeouts.
The Dodgers adjusted their rotation early in the week to line up Buehler, Clayton Kershaw and Trevor Bauer to start against the Padres.
San Diego counters with rookie Ryan Weathers, who will serve as the opener. He’s made three appearances out of the bullpen thus far, giving up just two hits and one run while striking out seven batters in six innings of work.
Weathers made his MLB debut against the Dodgers during the postseason and went 1.1 scoreless innings during the NLDS appearance.
As expected, the Dodgers did not activate Cody Bellinger off the 10-day injured list prior to Friday’s matchup. However, the team did reveal Bellinger suffered a hairline fracture when he was spiked earlier this month.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said the discovery did not necessarily alter Bellinger’s timetable for a return, but a target date remains unknown. Gavin Lux (right wrist soreness) and AJ Pollock (left groin tightness) are both available in a limited capacity.
Lux can pinch-run and enter as a defensive replacement, while Pollock could pinch-hit if necessary.
The Padres, meanwhile, get back Fernando Tatis Jr., who had been out after separating his left shoulder.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
C: Will Smith
1B: Max Muncy
CF: Chris Taylor
2B: Zach McKinstry
LF: Luke Raley
P: Walker Buehler
Padres lineup
CF: Trent Grisham
SS: Fernando Tatis Jr.
2B: Jake Cronenworth
3B: Manny Machado
1B: Eric Hosmer
RF: Wil Myers
LF: Jurickson Profar
C: Luis Campusano
P: Ryan Weathers
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