The Los Angeles Dodgers only have six games left in the regular season as they begin their final homestand with a series against the San Diego Padres.
With a record of 100-56, L.A. trails the San Francisco Giants in the National League West by two games as their rivals begin a series with the Arizona Diamondbacks.
For the Dodgers, it’s the ninth time in franchise history, and third in the past five seasons with at least 100 wins.
“You can’t get lost in the body of work and what we’ve done each year, the consistency,” manager Dave Roberts said of his club after they took the rubber match from the Arizona Diamondbacks.
“Knowing ultimately the goal is to win a championship every year, you’ve still got to give yourself that chance. Looking at a long season, a lot to be said of the organization. Proud of it, you take a moment to enjoy it and relish it, and we in the baseball world just have a way of moving on.”
If the Dodgers are able to sweep the Padres and Milwaukee Brewers, they would tie the franchise record of 106 wins, which the 2019 club holds.
On the other side, San Diego was just eliminated from playoff contention over the weekend as they sit at 78-78, 24 games out of first place and a far reach from where they expected to be after winning the offseason.
Walker Buehler looks to get back on track after a rough few starts where he has pitched to a 7.32 ERA and 4.59 FIP with only 13 strikeouts since the beginning of September.
The right-hander has made four starts against the Padres this season, pitching to a 2.03 ERA in 26.2 innings.
Overall, he has thrown 195.2 innings with a 2.58 ERA, 3.25 FIP and 4.9 WAR.
As a team the Padres are hitting .242/.322/.402 with a 98 wRC+ and 175 home runs. Against righties specifically, they are batting .243/.321/.410 with a 99 wRC+.
Former Dodger Yu Darvish will take the mound for the Padres. He holds a 4.21 ERA and 3.92 FIP in 162.1 innings this year.
He has made four starts against the Dodgers this season and he has thrown 26 innings with a 2.42 ERA in those starts.
As a team, L.A. is hitting .242/.328/.421 with a 104 wRC+ and 218 home runs, but they have been slightly better against right-handers, hitting .243/.334/.417 with a 105 wRC+.
The player to watch for this series against the Padres is Fernando Tatis Jr., who leads the NL with 41 homers while also stealing 25 bases, which has made him one of the favorites to win the NL’s MVP Award.
Prior to the game the Dodgers activated Cody Bellinger and placed Albert Pujols on the injured COVID-related list due to feeling side effects after receiving the second dose of the vaccine. Although Bellinger is back with the team, he’s not in the lineup as Gavin Lux remains the starter in center field.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
2B: Trea Turner
1B: Max Muncy
C: Will Smith
3B: Justin Turner
LF: AJ Pollock
CF: Gavin Lux
P: Walker Buehler
Padres lineup
LF: Adam Frazier
SS: Fernando Tatis Jr.
2B: Jake Cronenworth
3B: Manny Machado
1B: Eric Hosmer
RF: Wil Myers
CF: Trent Grisham
C: Victor Caratini
P: Yu Darvish
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