The Los Angeles Dodgers remain in the driver’s seat in the National League West, but need to have some success against the San Diego Padres this week to maintain their position.
While the Padres have already won the season series by taking seven of 10 matchups thus far, the Dodgers’ magic number to clinch the NL West is down to four entering play Tuesday. Should the Dodgers win two of three games against the Padres, it would wrap up the division.
At minimum, the Dodgers need one win over the next three days to remain in first place and continue controlling their own destiny in the NL West.
The highly-anticipated matchup begins with Michael King and Landon Knack on the mound. Both pitchers are starting on extra rest, with King receiving two more days than normal and Knack one day.
Knack’s potential final start of the regular season comes amid his ongoing audition for the Dodgers’ playoff roster. He conceivably could be part of the rotation for October or fill a multi-inning role out of the bullpen.
Knack is 3-4 with a 3.39 ERA and 1.07 WHIP across 13 games (11 starts) this season. He struggled against the Atlanta Braves but bounced back with seven strikeouts over five scoreless innings against the Miami Marlins last week.
King has excelled in his first season as a full-time starter, going 12-9 with a 3.04 ERA and 1.20 WHIP in 30 games (29 starts). King’s only relief appearance came against the Dodgers during the Seoul Series, when the right-hander allowed three runs over 3.1 innings in his Padres debut.
King also struggled in a start at Dodger Stadium on April 12, as he gave up seven runs (four earned) in five innings pitched. He then fired seven shutout innings against the Dodgers at home on May 10.
Max Muncy is back in the Dodgers lineup after missing their last game because of lingering soreness from a diving play attempt at third base.
Prior to the game, the Dodgers optioned Ben Casparius and called up Edgardo Henriquez to make his MLB debut. The flame-throwing right-hander figures to be in the mix for a postseason spot and provides them a high-upside option in their bullpen.
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: Kyle Higashioka
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