The Los Angeles Dodgers have reached the end of their seven-game road trip with a disappointing 1-5 record and needing a win to earn a split of the four-game series against the San Diego Padres.
If they drop a third consecutive game, the Dodgers will have lost three series in a row for the first time this season. Alex Wood returns from a second stint on the disabled list due to left SC joint inflammation.
He enters 14-1 with a 2.41 ERA, 2.95 FIP and 1.01 WHIP, including a 6-0 mark and 2.01 ERA in 10 road starts. Among starting pitchers with at least 100 innings pitched, he ranks third in ERA, fifth in WHIP and opponents’ on-base percentage (.271) and sixth in opponents on-base plus slugging (.603).
Wood is 1-0 with a 1.13 ERA and allowed just two hits in 26 at-bats by Padres players in two games (one start) this season. He’s a career 3-1 with a 2.09 ERA in 10 games (six starts) against the Padres.
Wood’s last time pitching at Petco Park included fireworks as he exchanged words with Manuel Margot, which led to a confrontation between managers Andy Green and Dave Roberts. Green and Wood were each fined, while Roberts was suspended one game.
The Padres send Jhoulys Chacin to the mound for his fifth start against the Dodgers this season. He’s 1-1 with a 5.30 ERA and 1.71 WHIP, and has gone 5.1 innings or less in each of the previous outings.
Overall, Chacin is 11-10 with a 4.03 ERA, with the bulk of his success coming at home. In 14 starts at Petco Park, the right-hander is 7-3 with a 1.85 ERA.
As expected, Corey Seager remains out of the lineup due to a sore right elbow. He’s expected to begin a throwing program Monday that will last at least four days. With Alex Verdugo starting in center field, it frees Chris Taylor to fill in at shortstop.
Including Sunday, Verdugo has started in all four games since making his MLB debut in the series opener. He’s 1-for-7 with two walks thus far.
Justin Turner enters play with a seven-game hitting streak and is batting .409/.500/.773 with five doubles, one home run and four RBI during the stretch.
Dodgers lineup:
SS: Chris Taylor
LF: Curtis Granderson
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Cody Bellinger
C: Yasmani Grandal
RF: Yasiel Puig
CF: Alex Verdugo
2B: Logan Forsythe
P: Alex Wood
Padres lineup:
CF: Manuel Margot
2B: Carlos Asuaje
LF: Jose Pirela
1B: Wil Myers
3B: Yangervis Solarte
RF: Matt Szczur
SS: Erick Aybar
C: Austin Hedges
P: Jhoulys Chacin
