The Los Angeles Dodgers were stunned Tuesday night by a game-ending triple play and now look to avoid losing yet another series to the San Diego Padres this season.
By hanging on to defeat the Dodgers in the series opener, the Padres now are just two games back in the National League West standings. Both teams have clinched a postseason berth but the NL West title remains up for grabs.
The Dodgers’ magic number for their 11th division championship in the past 12 seasons is just four. They can wrap up the NL West behind back-to-back wins against the Padres.
Jack Flaherty gets his opportunity to help L.A. accomplish that in what’s his 10th start for the team. Flaherty has gone 6-2 with a 3.40 ERA and 1.27 WHIP thus far with the Dodgers.
However, there was some regression in his past two outings, as the right-hander allowed a combined seven runs over just nine innings pitched. That small stretch has come on the heels of Flaherty tossing 7.1 scoreless innings against the Cleveland Guardians during a sweltering day game at Dodger Stadium on Sept. 8.
Flaherty is facing the Padres for the first time this season.
The Padres counter with Dylan Cease, who is 14-11 with a 3.42 ERA and 1.05 WHIP across 32 starts in his first season with the team. Cease held the Houston Astros without a run over 8.1 innings in his last start.
The right-hander fared reasonably well in his only other start against the Dodgers this season, as the limited them to just one run and three in 5.2 innings to earn a win at home on July 31.
Dodgers lineup
DH: Shohei Ohtani
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
LF: Teoscar Hernández
3B: Max Muncy
C: Will Smith
CF: Tommy Edman
2B: Gavin Lux
SS: Miguel Rojas
Padres lineup
DH: Luis Arraez
RF: Fernando Tatis Jr.
LF: Jurickson Profar
3B: Manny Machado
CF: Jackson Merrill
SS: Xander Bogaerts
2B: Jake Cronenworth
1B: Donovan Solano
C: Elias Díaz
Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!
