MLB Game Preview - San Diego at LA Dodgers
Sun Aug 4, 2019 4:10 PM EDT

CHW
10
PHI
5
F
TOR
5
BAL
6
F
MIA
2
TB
7
F
LAA
2
CLE
6
F
CIN
6
ATL
4
F(10)
NYM
13
PIT
2
F
KC
0
MIN
3
F
SEA
1
HOU
3
F
MIL
2
CHC
7
F
DET
4
TEX
9
F
SF
2
COL
6
F
STL
2
OAK
4
F
WSH
5
ARI
7
F
SD
10
LAD
11
F
BOS
4
NYY
7
F
Paddack, Padres try to split series with Dodgers
Sun Aug 4, 2019 4:21 AM

It might be the first season in the major leagues for San Diego Padres right-hander Chris Paddack, but he has become quite familiar with starts at Dodger Stadium.

Paddack on Sunday will make his third start of the season in the Dodgers' home park to close out this four-game series. It is the only visiting ballpark where the rookie has made multiple outings.

While his first outing in Los Angeles on May 14 did not go so well -- with six runs allowed (three earned) in 4 2/3 innings of a 6-3 defeat -- he was able to fire off 5 2/3 scoreless innings against the Dodgers on July 6. Paddack (7-5, 2.78 ERA) took a no-decision, but the Padres won that game 3-1 as part of a three-game winning streak over Los Angeles to close out the first half.

That game also opened what was a solid month of July for the right-hander, who had a 1.90 ERA over his four July starts, earning the victory in two of them. San Diego won three of those four games, including one on July 17 at Miami, when Paddack took a no-hitter into the eighth inning.

The Padres are just 6-14 in the second half after falling 4-1 to the Dodgers on Saturday, but Paddack's confidence in his team is far from shaken.

"Ever since the second half started, we've been struggling a little bit," Paddack said, according to the San Diego Union-Tribune. "... But all these guys in here, we're not going to quit. We all believe in ourselves. The effort is there every day. The confidence. We know what we're bringing to the table. I still don't think we've played our best baseball yet. That's scary."

Paddack will face Dodgers right-hander Kenta Maeda (7-8. 4.07), who has struggled for consistency and has given up eight combined earned runs in his last two outings, the most he has allowed in back-to-back outings this season.

In his last start, Monday at Colorado, Maeda gave up six runs to match a season high, with five of those runs earned, over just four innings.

He also opposed Paddack on July 6, taking the hard-luck loss after giving up three earned runs on four hits over 7 2/3 innings, unable to keep up with the rookie in the opposing dugout.

Maeda is 6-4 with a 4.07 ERA in 16 career appearances against the Padres. His 14 starts against the Padres are tied with the Arizona Diamondbacks for his most against any team.

Maeda has worked out of the Dodgers' bullpen as recently as July 19 and has finished each of the last two seasons as a reliever. But a move like that, even for a bullpen that could use some help, would not be easy for a Dodgers staff currently without starters Rich Hill (forearm) and Ross Stripling (neck, biceps soreness).

"The thing about our club is we know that internally we have what it takes to win a championship, and that's never been debated," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said, according to the Los Angeles Times.

On Sunday, the Dodgers have a chance to win three of the four games in the series. The Padres won three of four the last time the teams played in Los Angeles just before the All-Star break. Los Angeles holds a 7-5 advantage in the season series, going 5-4 at Dodger Stadium.

--Field Level Media

Team Record Comparison

Team Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
San Diego            
LA Dodgers            

Scheduled Starting Pitchers

Chris Paddack - MIN
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. LA Dodgers
Kenta Maeda - DET
Matchup
Season
vs. Opp Has not pitched vs. San Diego

Hot Batters (Last 10 team games)

Injury Report

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