San Diego @ Los Angeles preview
Dodger Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jul 9, 2011 ) San Diego 0, LA Dodgers 1
THE STORY: The Los Angeles Dodgers go for their fourth consecutive shutout Sunday when they host the San Diego Padres in the finale of their three-game series. After allowing 26 runs during a five-game losing streak, Los Angeles has posted three straight shutout victories, including 1-0 triumphs in each of the first two games of this series. San Diego has lost four in a row and is 3-6 on its 10-game road trip.
TV: 4:10 p.m. ET, Ch. 4 (San Diego), Prime Ticket (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Padres RH Tim Stauffer (5-5, 2.97 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Ted Lilly (5-9, 4.94).
Stauffer is looking to extend his personal winning streak to four games. The 29-year-old has allowed two earned runs or less in each of his last six starts, including a victory at San Francisco on Tuesday in which he yielded two earned over six innings. Stauffer is 3-2 lifetime against Los Angeles but received a no-decision at Dodger Stadium on April 30 despite surrendering only two runs in 6 2/3 innings. Lilly has lost four starts in a row and five of his last six. After allowing six runs in each of his previous three outings, the veteran lefthander gave up only three runs over six innings against the New York Mets on Tuesday. Lilly is 7-3 in 13 career meetings with San Diego and 1-0 in two outings this season.
ABOUT THE DODGERS (40-51): Los Angeles has scored eight runs during its first three-game shutout streak since 1991. The Dodgers went 8 2/3 innings without a hit Saturday before Juan Uribe doubled and Dioner Navarro followed with the game-winning single. Shortstop Rafael Furcal is only 2-for-16 (.125) lifetime against Stauffer, but first baseman James Loney has recorded four hits in nine at-bats (.444).
ABOUT THE PADRES (40-51): Righthander Aaron Harang was impressive in his return from the disabled list Saturday. Harang, who was activated prior to the game after missing nearly a month with a right foot contusion, tossed six hitless innings to lower his ERA to 1.59 over his last six starts. Cameron Maybin recorded San Diego's only hit Saturday, a single with one on and none out in the fifth. Outfielder Ryan Ludwick did not play Saturday and could ride the bench again. He is only 5-for-37 (.135) with 13 strikeouts in his career against Lilly.
FINAL PITCH: Each of the Dodgers' last five victories have been shutouts. They have won only nine of their last 19 contests, and kept their opponent off the scoreboard seven times.