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The Dodgers made their climb to the top of the National League West thanks in part to a strong record within their own division, though the bulk of that success has come at home.
At 42-28 against NL West foes in 2016, the Dodgers have the third-best record against their own division in the National League, trailing only the Cubs (47-23) and Nationals (49-24).
The Dodgers were 27-11 (.711) against NL West foes at home this season, but just 15-17 (.469) on the road, including just 1-5-1 in their last seven road series within the division.
LA’s final week including NL West road games in both San Diego and San Francisco.
The Dodgers are 4-2 at Petco Park this season and have outscored the Padres on the road, 42-15. The bulk of that work came in the opening series of the season, when the Dodgers swept the Padres without allowing a run, outscoring San Diego 25-0 in the first thee games of 2016.
The Dodgers are 37-38 overall on the road this season, and need a 4-2 week to avoid finishing with a losing road record for a second consecutive season.
The chief agitator for the Dodgers at Petco Park this season is Yasiel Puig, who is 11-for-25 (.440) with two triples, two home runs, two walks, eight RBI and eight runs scored in six games this season. Since returning from the minors, Puig has started all eight games against left-handed pitchers and started just once in 15 games against right-handers, so his role is pretty well established.
The Dodgers face one southpaw starter in this series — Christian Friedrich in Thursday night’s series finale.
On Tuesday, Kenta Maeda makes his fourth start against the Padres in 2016. The right-hander is 2-0 with a 2.50 ERA against San Diego, with 22 strikeouts and one walk in 18 innings.
Paul Clemens starts for the Padres, the rare pitcher who has fared much better on the road (2.91 ERA in eight games, including four starts, since joining the Padres) than the pitchers’ paradise of Petco Park (5.02 ERA in six starts).
Game info
Dodgers (90-66) at Padres (66-90)
Time: 7:10 p.m. PT
TV: SportsNet LA