After a 4-3 road trip and late night of travel, the Los Angeles Dodgers begin a homestand of exclusively facing National League West opponents.
Up first on the docket is the San Diego Padres for a matchup that has lost plenty of luster. Once considered a threat to win the division, the Padres have faded in the NL West standings as the season wore on and enter play 18 games back of the Dodgers.
L.A. swept a three-game series when they last met and have won 17 of the last 19 meetings.
Dustin May looks to continue that run of success while also building on his performances since returning from Tommy John surgery. May pitched five shutout innings in his 2022 debut and followed that by allowing just two runs over six frames in a second consecutive start against the Miami Marlins.
May last faced the Padres in April 2021. He collected 10 strikeouts in the outing and allowed just one run — on a Fernando Tatís Jr. homer.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has been pleased with what he’s seen from May, whose importance to the team has seemingly increased with Tony Gonsolin not yet advancing in his recovery from a strained right forearm. May already figured to factor prominently in the Dodgers’ outlook as his return overlapped with Walker Buehler undergoing a second Tommy John surgery in addition to a flexor tendon repair.
Offensively, the Dodgers try to get back on track against Yu Darvish. The 36-year-old has enjoyed success against his former teammates, including when facing them last month.
Darvish allowed just two runs despite giving up seven hits, and wound up taking a loss as the Padres were shut out.
Overall this season, Darvish is 11-7 with a 3.41 ERA. His win last week snapped a string of three consecutive losses. Darvish has collected at least six strikeouts in nine of his past 10 starts.
Trea Turner is not in the Dodgers lineup for the first time this season, which has Hanser Alberto starting at shortstop. Roberts had previously indicated Turner and Freddie Freeman would continue starting every game until the Dodgers clinched the NL West.
Gavin Lux was the initial starter in Turner’s place, but he was scratched from the lineup due to lingering neck discomfort.
Prior to the game the Dodgers reinstated Blake Treinen from the 60-day injured list and designated Jake Reed for assignment.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
DH: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
LF: Joey Gallo
2B: Chris Taylor
CF: Cody Bellinger
SS: Hanser Alberto
Padres lineup
LF: Jurickson Profar
RF: Juan Soto
3B: Manny Machado
DH: Josh Bell
2B: Jake Cronenworth
1B: Brandon Drury
CF: Trent Grisham
SS: Ha-Seong Kim
C: Austin Nola
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