Dodgers begin last road trip of season in San Diego

The Dodgers’ 2019 home schedule is complete, and they will finish off the season on the road. The first stop: San Diego.

It’s been sunny in San Diego for everyone except the Padres. In their last 10 games, they have gone 2-8 and have fired their manager Andy Green. Not a great week.

The Dodgers are doing comparatively better, going 6-4 in their last 10 games and clinching the division just 11 games ago.

LA took the season series over the Padres during the last meeting, but the Padres do have a chance to make it interesting this time around. The Dodgers have 10 wins to the Padres’ six.

Game one: Rich Hill (4-1, 2.68 ERA) vs. Ronald Bolaños (0-1, 5.79 ERA)

Tuesday, Sept. 25 - 7:10 p.m. PT // TV: SportsNet LA

In Rich Hill’s last start, he exited the game with a left knee issue after ²⁄₃ innings pitched. It turned out he strained his MCL, but he has discovered a work-around past this injury. He’s thrown a couple bullpen sessions and threw to live hitters on Saturday, proving he’s found a way to manage his knee pain.

The left handed pitcher, with a knee brace, will be limited to about two innings in San Diego.

On the other side of the veteran will be 23-year-old right hander Ronald Bolaños, who will make his fourth MLB start. Bolaños, a September call-up, will be facing the Dodgers for the first time of his young career. He hasn’t had a clean outing in the majors yet, but they aren’t too shabby, either. He pitched three innings against a Brewers lineup in his most recent outing, only getting dinged for two runs on three hits.

Game two: TBD vs. Dinelson Lamet (3-5, 3.84 ERA)

Wednesday, Sept. 26 - 7:10 p.m. PT // TV: SportsNet LA

Dinelson Lamet will be on the mound for the Padres on Wednesday, looking to build off the momentum from his last outing. It was quite impressive — he went six innings against the Milwaukee and held them to three hits, three walks and one run. But that’s not the most impressive stat from that day. He struck out 14 batters in this start. 14!

Lamet’s reputation at home isn’t doing him any favors — in six games, he has an 0-3 record and 4.94 ERA. He does much better when he pitches on the road, earning a 3-2 record and 2.92 ERA in seven games pitched.

The Dodgers have not announced a starter for Wednesday’s contest.

Game three: Clayton Kershaw (15-5, 3.15 ERA) vs. Joey Lucchesi (10-9, 4.28 ERA)

Thursday, Sept. 27 - 12:40 p.m. PT // TV: SportsNet LA

Clayton Kershaw’s last start of the season will come in San Diego. It’s assumed he’ll try to improve upon his most recent outing, which didn’t go so well. He went out against the Rockies and gave up four runs on eight hits, including three home runs.

The odds are stacked in his favor on Thursday at Petco Park, where Kershaw boasts a career 1.79 ERA and an 8-2 record. In 15 games at the stadium, he also flaunts a 0.899 WHIP.

Joey Lucchesi will head to the mound in the series finale for the Padres. He hasn’t been on his game lately, making a couple rough outings. In his last two starts, he combined for 11 runs, 15 hits and four home runs over 7 ²⁄₃ innings pitched.