After playing back-to-back entertaining games under the lights at Petco Park, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres wrap up their weekend series with an afternoon affair. A win will give the Dodgers their third series sweep of the season.
They look to accomplish as much without Cody Bellinger in the lineup for a second consecutive game. His right shoulder popped out of place and back in again during the series opener, but Bellinger remained in the game after being checked in.
He nor Dodgers manager Dave Roberts considered the situation serious and while Bellinger was expected to start Saturday, he instead was an option off the bench. Roberts explained it stemmed from Bellinger dealing with soreness. He appeared in the on-deck circle multiple occasions but never was sent to the plate.
On the mound the Dodgers hand the ball to Kenta Maeda, who is coming off a bit of a shaky start against the San Francisco Giants. Maeda didn’t allow a run but allowed seven hits and three walks as he only managed to complete five innings.
The right-hander has reached the sixth inning in half of his six starts this season. Maeda enters a lifetime 5-3 with a 4.40 ERA and 1.13 WHIP in 13 games (11 starts) against the Padres. He’s yet to see them this season.
That means facing former teammate Manny Machado, who has hit three home runs in the series thus far. “Hopefully Andy gives him a day off; day game after a night game,” Roberts joked Saturday.
With Nick Margevicius on the mound, the Dodgers face a fifth left-handed starter in as many games. Margevicius has managed to limit damage over his past two outings but issued a combined eight walks 10.2 innings pitched.
That could prove to be problematic against a Dodgers team that is tied for the MLB lead with a 10.9% walk rate and pace all clubs with 148 walks this season. Their lineup may not include Bellinger, but it features Justin Turner who has quietly heated up.
Turner enters play on a seven-game hitting streak, batting .407/.467/.556 with three multi-hit games and three walks during the stretch.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Kiké Hernandez
3B: Justin Turner
SS: Corey Seager
1B: David Freese
2B: Max Muncy
LF: Chris Taylor
RF: Alex Verdugo
C: Austin Barnes
P: Kenta Maeda
Padres lineup:
2B: Ian Kinsler
RF: Franmil Reyes
SS: Manny Machado
1B: Eric Hosmer
LF: Alex Dickerson
CF: Wil Myers
3B: Greg Garcia
C: Francisco Mejia
P: Nick Margevicius
