The Los Angeles Dodgers clubbed their way to an 11-2 win on Tuesday night and now look to finish off a short homestand by taking the rubber match against the San Diego Padres.
A rebound performance from Lance Lynn allowed for a lopsided win that improved the Dodgers to 88-56. With a 13-game lead in the National League West, their magic number to clinch the division sits at four.
Having won nine of 12 matchups with the Padres this season, the Dodgers’ reign over their scuffling NL West rivals continues. The Dodgers have not lost a series to the Padres in the regular season since June 21-23, 2021, when they were swept at Petco Park.
Ryan Pepeiot makes his third start and fifth overall appearance of the season, following up his most recent outing against the Miami Marlins, in which he flirted with a perfect game and allowed just one hit over seven innings. The 26-year-old has been stellar since coming off the 60-day injured list, posting a 0.86 ERA, 0.52 WHIP, and a .127 batting average allowed in 21 innings.
The state of the Dodgers’ starting rotation has opened the door for Pepiot as a possible candidate for the postseason roster. He generated 11 whiffs against the Marlins, and has lowered his hard-hit rate from 40.9% last year to 22.2% in 2023.
Pepiot faces off against a Padres lineup that is struggling, but features a strong top half in Fernando Tatis Jr., Juan Soto, Manny Machado and Xander Bogaerts.
The uncertainty surrounding Clayton Kershaw’s health is a main reason as to why Pepiot could be considered for a sizable role in the playoffs. With just a few turns in the rotation remaining during the regular season, a matchup with the Padres’ star power is a great test for the young right-hander.
San Diego turns to NL Cy Young contender Blake Snell, making his 30th start of the season. The left-hander has made 30 starts just one other time in his career, when he took home the American League Cy Young Award in 2018 as a member of the Tampa Bay Rays.
Snell’s 2.52 ERA, 1.25 WHIP, and .192 batting average allowed across 161 innings put him amongst the top starts in the NL. Wednesday’s matchup is Snell’s fourth time facing the Dodgers this season.
In his three starts prior, Snell owns a 3.71 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, surrendering 11 walks in 17 innings pitched. The main issue with his performance this year is an inability to limit walks, as he’s allowed the most in Major League Baseball (92).
The Dodgers lineup predictably has an abundance of right-handed bats against Snell. Mookie Betts enters play with 103 RBI, tied with Charlie Blackmon’s 2017 record for most out of the leadoff spot.
Prior to the game the Dodgers activated Joe Kelly off the 15-day injured list and optioned Kyle Hurt to Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
LF: Chris Taylor
DH: J.D. Martinez
3B: Kiké Hernández
2B: Amed Rosario
CF: James Outman
SS: Miguel Rojas
C: Austin Barnes
Padres lineup
SS: Ha-Seong Kim
RF: Fernando Tatis Jr.
LF: Juan Soto
C: Luis Campusano
DH: Jurickson Profar
1B: Garrett Cooper
CF: Trent Grisham
2B: Matthew Batten
3B: Eguy Rosario
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