MLB Game Preview - LA Dodgers at San Diego

Tue Aug 27, 2019 10:10 PM EDT

Two of the more interesting young right-handed starters in the National League West will be paired Tuesday night in San Diego.

The Los Angeles Dodgers' Walker Buehler needs no introduction. And the San Diego Padres' Cal Quantrill is someone you might want to know.

Buehler, an All-Star this year, is 10-3 this season with a 3.16 ERA. Quantrill is 6-4 with a 3.32 ERA.

Quantrill is 4-2 with a 1.79 ERA since the All-Star break, although one of the two losses came on Aug. 3 at Dodger Stadium.

"Cal has done an excellent job with his pitch mix since he moved back into the rotation," Padres manager Andy Green said recently. "And he is a mix pitcher. He uses all his weapons in any count. It's really been impressive to watch him work games."

Buehler, meanwhile, threw seven shutout innings against the Toronto Blue Jays last Wednesday at Dodger Stadium. He allowed five hits and no walks while striking out eight in a no-decision.

"I thought Walker was really, really good," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after that game. "He was in sync all night long, changing speeds, the fastball had the carry, the command."

But Buehler, 25, didn't think he was back to top form.

"I don't think my stuff was quite as good as it has been. I caught some breaks," he said.

This will be the second time that Buehler and Quantrill have faced off.

Buehler started the Aug. 3 game at Dodger Stadium that marks the only time that Quantrill has faced the Dodgers.

While Quantrill was giving up four runs (two earned) on six hits with three strikeouts in five innings, Buehler was pitching the second complete game of his three-year career. Buehler held the Padres to one run on five hits while striking out 15 without issuing a walk.

Tuesday night will be the 6-foot-2, 185-pound Buehler's fourth career start against the Padres. Over the first three, he produced a 3-0 record and a 0.82 ERA -- allowing two earned runs in 22 innings while striking out 31 Padres and issuing only three walks. The Padres have a career .125 opponents' batting average against Buehler.

In 148 1/3 innings over 24 starts this season, Buehler has 174 strikeouts against 26 walks. Opponents are hitting .223 against him, and he has a 1.02 WHIP. He is averaging 10.56 strikeouts per nine innings.

Quantrill didn't start his major league career until May 1, and he wasn't a full-time member of the rotation until July 27 -- although seven of his past eight appearances have come as a starter.

In 18 games (13 starts), Quantrill has given up 32 runs (30 earned) on 70 hits and 19 walks with 70 strikeouts in 81 1/3 innings for a .229 opponents' batting average and a 1.09 WHIP.

"I've liked the way Cal has approached games," Green said. "Pressure doesn't get to him. He works out of jams. He's mentally tough. And he's getting better as he gains confidence and sees that his mix works in the major leagues."

Quantrill, 24, was the Padres' first-round pick (eighth overall) in the 2016 draft.

--Field Level Media