The San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers meet for another weekend series, this time a four-game set at Dodger Stadium that begins Thursday night with a rematch between Ryan Weathers and Walker Buehler.
They both started last Friday but neither factored into the decision as the Dodgers and Padres played to 12 innings at Petco Park. The outing was Weather’s first start of his young Major League career and marked the most pitches he’s ever thrown at 79.
Weathers went just 3.2 innings, allowing one hit and issuing a walk while collecting three strikeouts. He’s 1-0 with one save, a 0.93 ERA and 0.72 WHIP in four games (one start) this season.
Buehler labored a bit through six innings his last time facing the Padres. He allowed two runs on seven hits and finished with four strikeouts. That’s the same total Buehler has had in each of his three starts this season, and it remains an area of focus for him moving forward.
Although Buehler has only managed four strikeouts in every outing thus far, he’s taken some solace in logging six innings each time out. In years past, the right-hander has been slow to build up through the first month-plus of a regular season.
Thursday’s series opener lacks the same buzz of last week’s meeting, both because it is not the first meeting between the Dodgers and Padres, and due to each being on a bit of a skid.
While still holding the best record in baseball at 14-4, the Dodgers have lost two of their last three games. Meanwhile, the Padres are coming off being swept by the Milwaukee Brewers in a series that dropped them to .500.
Nevertheless, the budding National League West rivalry should bring out one another’s top form. “I don’t know if I learned anything,” Chris Taylor said after concluding last weekend’s series with the Padres.
“We knew what they were coming in. We know that they’re very talented, they have good pitchers and we knew every game was going to be a battle. So I don’t think I’ve learned anything new about them. It was a good, hard-fought series, and that’s pretty much what we expected.”
After managing a series split with the Seattle Mariners and winning record on their road trip, the Dodgers have Mookie Betts back in the lineup. He was held out of Tuesday’s game after being hit by a pitch on the inside of his right forearm.
Betts was experiencing soreness the following day but his conditioned improved after receiving continued treatment. Taylor and Zach McKinstry both were in lineup before being scratched because of lower back stiffness.
Dodgers lineup
CF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
C: Will Smith
1B: Max Muncy
LF: AJ Pollock
2B: Sheldon Neuse
RF: Luke Raley
P: Walker Buehler
Padres lineup
SS: Fernando Tatis Jr.
CF: Trent Grisham
3B: Manny Machado
1B: Erich Hosmer
RF: Wil Myers
2B: Jake Cronenworth
C: Luis Campusano
LF: Jurickson Profar
P: Ryan Weathers
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