On the heels of an overall successful homestand in which they posted a solid 4-2 record, the Los Angeles Dodgers hit the road for seven games and make their first stop at Petco Park for the start of a three-game series against the San Diego Padres.
At 86-46, the Dodgers continue to boast the best record in all of baseball and are nearing a seventh consecutive National League West title. Entering Monday’s opener, the magic number to do so stands at just 12 games.
L.A. will look to reduce that figure with continued success against San Diego. The Dodgers are 8-5 against the Padres this season, which includes a 2-1 showing at Petco Park.
Returning to the starting rotation is Dustin May, who looks to help the Dodgers get back into the win column. Pitching on seven days rest, the 21-year-old last took the mound in a relief appearance against the Atlanta Braves.
May struggled in what was his first career MLB game out of the bullpen, allowing five baserunners and four runs over two innings of work.
In four overall appearances this season (three starts), the right-hander has compiled a 1-2 record, 4.26 ERA, 3.79 FIP and 1.21 WHIP with 15 strikeouts against three walks across 19 innings pitched.
May last faced the Padres in his Major League debut on Aug. 2, yielding three runs on nine hits over 5.2 frames. He was tabbed with a loss and will look to redeem himself against a San Diego team that is just 10-12 this month.
The Padres counter with Eric Lauer, who looks to build off a solid, albeit shortened, start against the Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 19. In four innings of work, he allowed just one run on four hits with five strikeouts.
The left-hander enters with an overall 6-8 record, 4.47 ERA, 4.19 FIP and 1.40 WHIP in 118.2 innings pitched this season. He has particularly struggled in the second half, going 1-1 with a 5.93 ERA and 1.72 WHIP over 27.1 innings (seven games, six starts).
Despite his overall struggles, Lauer has excelled against the Dodgers this season. In three starts, he has accumulated a 1-0 record with a 2.65 ERA and 0.82 WHIP across 17 innings.
Lauer has additionally thrived at Petco Park in 2019. Entering Monday’s outing, he has pitched to a 3-3 record, 3.10 ERA and 1.34 WHIP with 43 strikeouts against 15 walks in 61 innings (12 appearances, 11 starts).
Dodgers lineup:
CF: A.J. Pollock
2B: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Cody Bellinger
SS: Corey Seager
C: Will Smith
LF: Chris Taylor
RF: Kiké Hernandez
P: Dustin May
Padres lineup:
2B: Greg Garcia
RF: Josh Naylor
3B: Manny Machado
1B: Eric Hosmer
C: Francisco Mejia
LF: Wil Myers
CF: Manuel Margot
SS: Luis Urias
P: Eric Lauer
