After a sloppy, disappointing performance in the series opener, the Los Angeles Dodgers look to bounce back against the San Diego Padres on Tuesday night at Petco Park.
The two teams are now just 1.5 games apart in the National League West standings, so the final two games of this series could be big in determining who wins the division.
Getting the start for the Dodgers on Tuesday is right-hander Tony Gonsolin, who has been outstanding this season. In six games (five starts), Gonsolin is 0-1 with a 1.57 ERA, 2.89 FIP and 0.84 WHIP with 28 strikeouts and six walks in 28.2 innings.
Gonsolin has faced the Padres twice in his career, once as in start and once out of the bullpen, tossing a combined 6.2 shutout innings while striking out 11. The start came earlier this season at Dodger Stadium on Aug. 12.
Gonsolin went 4.2 scoreless innings, allowing just three hits and a walk with a career-high eight strikeouts.
Opposing Gonsolin is another right-hander in Zach Davies, who is having a fantastic season in his own right. In nine starts, Davies leads the league in wins with a 7-2 record to go along with a 2.48 ERA, 3.63 FIP and 0.96 WHIP with 50 strikeouts and 15 walks in 54.1 innings.
He tossed seven strong innings against the Dodgers on Aug. 12, giving up just two runs, although he took the loss. Davies is a stark contrast to the starter the Dodgers saw in the series opener, Dinelson Lamet, as his fastball is one of the slowest in the league, so it will take some adjusting.
In seven career starts against L.A., Davies is 3-2 with a 2.08 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 35 strikeouts and nine walks in 43.1 innings.
Cody Bellinger is really the only Dodgers player that has had success against Davies, going 4-for-11 with a home run. He has been struggling as of late so this could be a good night for him to get going.
The Dodgers will also be aided by the return of Justin Turner, who has missed the last couple of weeks with a hamstring injury. Turner is slashing .282/.384/.410 with two home runs and 20 RBI in 32 games this season and will serve as the designated hitter in his first game back.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
DH: Justin Turner
C: Will Smith
1B: Cody Bellinger
2B: Chris Taylor
CF: AJ Pollock
LF: Joc Pederson
3B: Edwin Rios
Padres lineup
CF: Trent Grisham
SS: Fernando Tatis Jr.
3B: Manny Machado
1B: Mitch Moreland
C: Austin Nola
RF: Wil Myers
2B: Jake Cronenworth
LF: Jurickson Profar
DH: Greg Garcia
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