The Los Angeles Dodgers have walloped the San Diego Padres thus far in 2017, taking seven of eight head-to-head meetings while outscoring the Padres, 63-18. Sunday’s game is not only an opportunity for the Dodgers to complete a three-game sweep but also remain perfect at Petco Park.
Kenta Maeda takes the mound coming off a strong performance that earned him another turn in the rotation. In what was arguably the best start of his career, Maeda tossed seven shutout innings against Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
He allowed two earned runs or fewer in all five games (three starts) during June. Maeda yielded a 6.58 ERA in April, had a 3.63 ERA in May and 1.71 ERA last month.
On the year he’s 6-3 with a 4.15 ERA, 3.87 FIP and 1.13 WHIP in 14 games (12 starts). Maeda has allowed a combined five runs (four earned) in 10 innings pitched across two starts against the Padres this season, suffering one loss.
The Dodgers face Jhoulys Chacin, who’s an impressive 4-2 with a 1.83 ERA in eight home starts. He’s opponents to a .176/.234/.294 batting line at Petco Park. That’s in stark comparison to Chacin’s 2-5 record and 9.08 ERA in the same number of road starts.
Chacin has twice faced the Dodgers this season and started opposite Maeda on April 3. The outing at Dodger Stadium was one to forget, as the right-hander was chased in the fourth inning and allowed nine runs, all earned, on eight hits.
Chacin fared better when he drew Los Angeles at home in May, that time holding them to just one run on four hits in 5.1 innings. His effort was all for naught, however, as the Dodgers came away with a victory by getting to the Padres’ bullpen.
While Justin Turner is putting together a stellar all-around season, he’s been particularly effective against the Padres. In seven games, he’s batting .481/.563/.815 with three doubles, two home runs and four RBI. Turner is a lifetime 5-for-12 off Chacin, with two doubles and two RBI.
The Dodgers have won 20 of their last 23 games, and enter play Sunday one-half game behind the Houston Astros for the best record in baseball. Los Angeles is tied with the Cleveland Indians for most shutouts this season (eight).
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Cody Bellinger
CF: Joc Pederson
C: Yasmani Grandal
LF: Chris Taylor
RF: Yasiel Puig
P: Kenta Maeda
Padres lineup:
LF: Jose Pirela
CF: Manuel Margot
3B: Cory Spangenberg
RF: Hunter Renfroe
1B: Hector Sanchez
SS: Erick Aybar
2B: Carlos Asuaje
C: Luis Torrens
P: Jhoulys Chacin
