The Los Angeles Dodgers snapped their five-game losing streak Friday night and now meet the San Diego Padres for a day-night doubleheader at Petco Park. September has brought about roster call-ups, and it lends to O’Koyea Dickson making his MLB debut one day after Alex Verdugo did.
Dickson starts in left field and bats seventh, with Verdugo again hitting eighth. Dickson batted .246/.328/.484 with 22 doubles, 24 home runs and 76 RBI over 116 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City. This season was his third with the Dodgers’ top affiliate.
With the left-handed Clayton Richard on the mound for the Padres, the Dodgers have a bevy of right-handed batters in their lineup. Kiké Hernandez is at shortstop for Corey Seager, who is nursing a sore elbow that an MRI on revealed some ‘problems.’
Rob Segedin, who was also recalled on Friday, makes his third start this season. Segedin missed significant time due to a toe strain and right wrist surgery.
Richard takes the mound with a 6-13 record, 4.96 ERA, 4.36 FIP and 1.52 WHIP in 27 starts. He’s 5-7 with a 4.96 ERA in 13 starts at Petco Park.
Richard threw eight shutout innings to earn a win at Dodger Stadium on April 4, but has since allowed a combined 12 earned runs in 15.1 innings across his last three starts against the Dodgers.
Austin Barnes is a career 5-for-9 off the southpaw, with two doubles, one home run and five RBI. Cody Bellinger is 4-for-7 with three RBI and two walks, and Hernandez is 3-for-11 with two doubles, two RBI and three walks.
Brock Stewart takes the hill for the afternoon matchup in what’s his 11th game (fourth start) with the Dodgers this season. He’s yet to earn a decision and enters with a 3.38 ERA, 4.84 FIP and 1.29 WHIP in 24 innings pitched.
Stewart earned a save and threw 13 scoreless innings through his first six appearances. He then allowed five unearned runs in a start against the Minnesota Twins on July 26, and a combined nine earned runs in 7.1 innings (11.05 ERA) in the next three games (one start).
Stewart has thrown a combined three scoreless innings over two career relief appearances against the Padres. Only Hunter Renfroe has logged more than two at-bats against Stewart, with Yangervis Solarte producing the team’s lone hit off the righty.
Saturday’s doubleheader is the first between the Dodgers and Padres since June 17, 1988, when they played two at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers are 10-3 against the Padres this season, including a 5-1 mark at Petco Park.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Logan Forsythe
C: Austin Barnes
SS: Kiké Hernandez
1B: Cody Bellinger
RF: Yasiel Puig
3B: Rob Segedin
LF: O’Koyea Dickson
CF: Alex Verdugo
P: Brock Stewart
Padres lineup:
CF: Manuel Margot
2B: Carlos Asuaje
LF: Jose Pirela
SS: Yangervis Solarte
1B: Wil Myers
3B: Cory Spangenberg
RF: Jabari Blash
C: Austin Hedges
P: Clayton Richard
