SAN DIEGO -- The backbone of the current Dodgers hot streak - six wins in their last eight games, nine wins in their last 13 - has been their starting pitching. On the anniversary of the start of their historic hot streak in 2013, the Dodgers send Hyun-jin Ryu to the mound looking for another series win in San Diego.
Beginning play one year ago today, the Dodgers were 30-42 (.417), in last place and 9½ games out in the National League West. They were in San Diego and with a win over the Padres on June 22 the Dodgers began a stretch of 42-8 (and 53-13, too), the best 50-game stretch since the 1942 Cardinals.
One year later the Dodgers find themselves trailing, but by a much more manageable four games and in second place behind San Francisco.
Dodgers starting pitchers have allowed more than three runs three times in the last 16 games, and more than three earned runs just once during that span. During those 16 games, the starters are 10-4 with a 2.48 ERA with 94 strikeouts and 19 walks in 101⅓ innings, averaging 6⅓ per start.
After seeing Josh Beckett cut through the San Diego lineup like a hot knife through butter on Saturday night, running his road scoreless streak to 22 straight innings, the Dodgers send their road master to the mound Sunday in Ryu.
Ryu began the season with scoreless starts in each of his first four road outings and didn't allow a run away from home until his 32nd road inning. Ryu this season has only allowed eight total runs in seven road starts, and 40 of his 44 road innings have been scoreless.
Dating back to 2013, Ryu has allowed nine runs in his last 59 road innings, a 1.37 ERA, with 49 strikeouts and 12 walks.
Four active Padres have hits against Ryu. Chris Denorfia and Will Venable are both 2-for-6 (.333), Tommy Medica is 1-for-2 (.500) with a walk, and Alexi Amarista is 1-for-1.
Old friend Eric Stults starts for San Diego, and has had a rough time against several Dodgers. Yasiel Puig is 5-for-6 (.833) with a double against him, Justin Turner is 4-for-6 (.667) with two doubles and a triple, Scott Van Slyke is 2-for-3 (.667) with a home run.
Matt Kemp is 4-for-9 (.444) with a double against Stults, Hanley Ramirez is 4-for-12 (.333) with two doubles, A.J. Ellis is 2-for-8 (.250) with a home run and two walks. Adrian Gonzalez is 5-for-17 (.294) with two home runs and two doubles, and even Ryu is 1-for-2 (.500) with a double against him.
The Dodgers are 8-0-2 in their last 10 series in San Diego, and haven't lost a series at Petco Park since September 2010.
Game info
Time: 1:10 p.m. PT
TV: SportsNet LA