SAN DIEGO -- The Dodgers look to rebound from Sunday's stunning loss by sending Zack Greinke to the mound for his 2014 debut in the middle game of its series against the Padres on Tuesday afternoon in San Diego.
Greinke allowed just three runs in 18 innings in his three start at Petco Park in 2013, all Dodgers wins. He struck out 15 and walked just three in those road games against the Padres, and outside of his broken collarbone suffered last April 11 Greinke wasn't hit hard in any of the games.
That collarbone was broken in the first of two major brawls for the Dodgers last season, both involving Greinke. He also started June 11 against the Diamondbacks, a game that featured a brawl which resulted in eight players or coaches getting suspended for a cumulative 29 games.
The opposing starter last June 11 was Ian Kennedy, who received a 10-game suspension for throwing at Greinke's head. But he was traded to the Padres at the trade deadline, allowing for today's brawl consolidation reunion of sorts.
Kennedy had a 5.23 ERA at the time of the trade and in two months in San Diego put up a 4.24 ERA and also struck out 22.4 percent of his batters faced, in line with the 22 percent rate when he finished second in Cy Young balloting in 2011. The former USC right-hander allowed two or fewer runs in five of his six starts at Petco Park after joining the Padres.
Andre Ethier is 10-for-28 (.357) with two home runs, two doubles and two walks against Kennedy in his career. Hanley Ramirez is 2-for-13 (.154) with a walk.
Against Greinke, Seth Smith is 5-for-13 (.385) with three doubles, while Will Venable is 1-for-13 (.077) with a triple and a walk.
Greinke has allowed 19 runs in his last 16 regular season starts.