The Los Angeles Dodgers begin a three-game set against the San Diego Padres at Petco Park for the second time this season. Los Angeles opened the year in San Diego, sweeping the Padres and outscoring them, 25-0, over the three games.
Scott Kazmir, who allowed just one hit and tossed six scoreless innings in his Dodgers debut at Petco Park earlier this season, gets the ball in Friday’s series opener. The southpaw is coming off his best outing of 2016.
Kazmir threw 8.2 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals and allowed three runs (two earned) on five hits. The 32-year-old lefty collected seven strikeouts in the outing, which is his second highest mark this season. Kazmir’s bid for a complete game ended on a two-run home run with two outs in the ninth inning.
In three career starts against the Padres, Kazmir owns a 3.18 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 17 innings pitched. Overall this season, he’s 3-3 with a 4.89 ERA, 5.16 FIP and 1.28 WHIP in eight starts.
Kazmir is opposed by fellow southpaw Christian Friedrich, who makes just his second career start for the Padres. In his San Diego debut, the 28 year old suffered the loss despite turning in a quality start.
Friedrich held the Milwaukee Brewers to one run over six innings, had four strikeouts, but also walked six (one intentional). Friedrich has made 10 relief appearances against the Dodgers over his young career, all of them coming during his time with the Colorado Rockies.
In those games, he’s allowed seven runs on 10 hits over seven innings pitched, good for a 9.00 ERA and 1.86 WHIP. For a second time this season, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts has both catchers in the lineup.
A.J. Ellis is behind the plate, while Yasmani Grandal fills in for Adrian Gonzalez at first base. Gonzalez is expected to return to the lineup Saturday, with Friday marking the fourth consecutive game he’s not started.
Elsewhere, Kiké Hernandez starts in left field, and Trayce Thompson is in center. Grandal (2-for-3), Howie Kendrick (2-for-6) and Justin Turner (1-for-2) have some success against Friedrich, albeit in small sample sizes.
As for the Padres, Matt Kemp is out of the lineup after making 32 consecutive starts. What’s more, he’d started 41 of the Padres’ 42 games entering Friday. Alexei Ramirez, who starts at shortstop and bats seventh, is a career 8-for-24 off Kazmir, with two doubles, one triple, one home run and six RBIs.
Adam Rosales, batting eighth, has nine hits, including one home run, and three RBIs in 24 career at-bats against Kazmir.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Kiké Hernandez
3B: Justin Turner
SS: Corey Seager
2B: Howie Kendrick
CF: Trayce Thompson
RF: Yasiel Puig
1B: Yasmani Grandal
C: A.J. Ellis
P: Scott Kazmir
Padres lineup:
CF: Jon Jay
C: Derek Norris
1B: Wil Myers
LF: Melvin Upton Jr.
3B: Brett Wallace
SS: Alexei Ramirez
RF: Jose Pirela
2B: Adam Rosales
P: Christian Friedrich
