Los Angeles @ San Diego preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 25, 2012 ) LA Dodgers 1, San Diego 2

The postseason window is closing fast on the Los Angeles Dodgers, who trail the St. Louis Cardinals by 4 1/2 games for the last National League wild card spot with eight games left. The Dodgers have lost 20 of 32 games since Aug. 19, including Tuesday’s 2-1 loss to the San Diego Padres. While Los Angeles has dropped eight of its last 12 road games, San Diego is 24-7 at home since July 17. The Dodgers have struggled offensively for several weeks, but their bullpen continues to thrive. Dodgers relievers have allowed opponents to bat .222 this season, and Brandon League and Ronald Belisario rank among the NL ERA leaders since Aug. 21.

The Padres have lost nine of their 16 meetings with the Dodgers this season, but they’re intent on finishing the season on a high note. San Diego is 54-39 since June 12, which ranks eighth in the majors. Left fielder Carlos Quentin (knee soreness) has played in just one game since Sept. 10, and he could be used solely as a pinch hitter during the final week. Dodgers left fielder Shane Victorino went 1-for-3 on Tuesday after missing the last three games with a strained left wrist, and he caused the benches to clear briefly in the seventh inning after he objected to Everth Cabrera’s slide to break up a double play at second base.

TV: 6:35 p.m. ET, PRIME (Los Angeles), Fox Sports SD (San Diego)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers RH Aaron Harang (9-10, 3.80 ERA) vs. Padres LH Clayton Richard (14-12, 3.81)

Harang is looking to rebound from a rocky start last Wednesday against Washington when he allowed two runs over 4 1/3 innings. He’s 4-5 with a 3.97 ERA in 15 career games (14 starts) against the Padres. Harang tied a career high with 13 strikeouts and fanned a Dodger-record nine consecutive hitters on April 13 against San Diego.

Richard has won seven of his last nine starts, including last Thursday when he allowed four runs over six innings against Arizona. In his last five starts at Petco Park, Richard is 5-0 with a 1.60 ERA. He’s 6-2 with a 2.82 in 12 career starts against Los Angeles, and his career-high 208 innings pitched is seventh in the majors.

WALK-OFFS

1. Padres 3B Chase Headley is 5-for-15 (.333) with one home run against Harang, who has a career record of 104-104.

2. Dodgers 1B Adrian Gonzalez is batting .500 (15-for-30) in his career against the Padres.

3. The Padres have not won a series against the Dodgers at Petco Park since sweeping a three-game set in September 2010.