San Diego @ Los Angeles preview

Last Meeting ( Jul 15, 2012 ) San Diego 7, LA Dodgers 2

Adrian Gonzalez faces his former team when the Los Angeles Dodgers begin a three-game series against the improving San Diego Padres on Monday. Gonzalez has struggled since being traded from Boston on Aug. 25, but he delivered a game-winning double Sunday to keep the Dodgers 4 1/2 games behind National League West-leading San Francisco while moving one half-game back of St. Louis for the second wild-card spot. The Padres’ playoff hopes faded long ago, but they’ve been one of the top teams in the league since June 12 while going 42-32. The Dodgers are 8-4 against the Padres this season, including 4-2 at Dodger Stadium.

For the Dodgers to build on Sunday’s dramatic 5-4 win over Arizona, they’ll need to find a way to slow down Padres third baseman Chase Headley. Since Aug. 1, Headley is hitting .328 with 11 homers and 37 RBIs, and he belted his 23rd homer and drove in a career-high six runs in Sunday’s 11-10 loss at Colorado. While the Dodgers wait to learn more about the status of closer Kenley Jansen (irregular heartbeat), manager Don Mattingly has turned to Brandon League and Ronald Belisario. League was largely ineffective in the first few weeks after being traded from Seattle on July 30, but he’s pitched seven scoreless innings since Aug. 21, allowing just two hits (2-for-23) with 11 strikeouts.

TV: 8:10 p.m. ET, MLB Network, Fox Sports SD (San Diego), PRIME (Los Angeles)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres LH Andrew Werner (1-1, 3.00 ERA) vs. Dodgers RH Joe Blanton (9-12, 4.95)

Werner is set to make his third career start after turning in two quality outings. He gave up two runs over six innings against Atlanta on Tuesday, but the Padres were shut out 2-0. He held left-handed batters hitless (0-for-10) in the start, and he hasn’t allowed a homer to a left-handed hitter this season, including the minors.

Blanton earned his first victory in five starts as a Dodger on Wednesday after going 0-3 with a 7.71 ERA through his first four outings. He gave up three runs over 7 1/3 innings against the Rockies in his last start, moving one win shy of reaching double digits for the fifth time in his career. Cameron Maybin is 8-for-19 (.421) in his career against Blanton.

WALK-OFFS

1. San Diego ranks second in the majors with 122 stolen bases on the year, behind only the Marlins (128).

2. The Dodgers recalled OF Bobby Abreu from Triple-A Albuquerque, where he was hitting .353 in five games since being designated for assignment on Aug. 1.

3. The Padres activated RHP Andrew Cashner from the disabled list Saturday, and the Padres are considering making him part of a six-man starting rotation down the stretch.