Los Angeles @ San Diego preview
Petco Park
Last Meeting ( Sep 5, 2012 ) San Diego 4, LA Dodgers 3
The Los Angeles Dodgers can ill afford to lose many more games if they intend on making the playoffs. Their attempt at a late surge begins Tuesday, when they kick off a three-game series against the Padres in San Diego. Los Angeles, which is 3-3 on its nine-game road trip, trails St. Louis by 3 1/2 games for the second wild card spot in the National League.
The Dodgers, who are tied with Milwaukee in the race for the final postseason berth, have lost seven of their last 11 road games. They close out the regular season at home against Colorado and NL West champion San Francisco. San Diego returns to Petco Park following a 2-4 road trip. The Padres have lost nine of their 15 overall meetings with the Dodgers and four of six at home.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, KCAL (Los Angeles), FSN (San Diego)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Josh Beckett (1-2, 3.45 ERA) vs. Padres RH Edinson Volquez (10-11, 4.30)
Beckett is winless in his last three starts, including a no-decision at Washington on Wednesday in which he allowed four runs over 7 1/3 innings. The 32-year-old has yielded three earned runs or less in four of his five outings since being acquired from Boston. Beckett has pitched well against San Diego over his career, going 5-1 with a 2.16 ERA in six meetings.
Volquez suffered his second loss in three starts on Wednesday, when he yielded four runs over six innings at Arizona. The 29-year-old Dominican has won each of his last two outings at home, allowing three earned runs in 12 frames. Volquez will be making his fifth start of the season against Los Angeles. He went 0-2 with a 6.30 ERA in the first four meetings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles SS Hanley Ramirez expects to be in the lineup Tuesday after fouling a ball off his left shin on Sunday.
2. Yasmani Grandal needs to start five more contests to give the Padres three catchers with at least 50 starts for the first time in franchise history. Nick Hundley (56) and John Baker (50) already have reached the plateau.
3. Dodgers C A.J. Ellis snapped an 0-for-30 drought with a double in the ninth inning on Sunday.