The Dodgers open a three-game series on Friday night against the Padres at Dodger Stadium.
The Dodgers finish off their homestand this weekend with a series against the Padres, their first action against the National League West in seven weeks. Here is a look at the schedule and starting pitching matchups for the three-game series at Dodger Stadium.
Friday, 7:10 p.m. (Prime Ticket)
Normally a 2.84 ERA in five starts with 28 strikeouts and just three walks would be worthy of endless praise, but Hyun-jin Ryu's August has been lost in the sea of great Dodger pitching. Ryu is well behind rotation mates Clayton Kershaw (1.01 ERA in August), Zack Greinke (1.23) and Ricky Nolasco (1.64) but having a fine month in his own right, even though he has lost his last two starts. Eric Stults is 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA against his old team, but has hit more home runs (one) at Dodger Stadium in 2013 than Matt Kemp and A.J. Ellis combined.
Saturday, 6:10 p.m. (Prime Ticket)
Taking the long view, Chris Capuano has 45 strikeouts and just nine walks to go with his 4.35 ERA in 12 starts since returning from the disabled list on June 19, numbers perfectly acceptable for a fifth starter. But in his last four starts Capuano has a 6.98 ERA with 16 runs and 32 hits allowed in 19⅓ innings. Andrew Cashner and his big fastball, with an average of 94.4 mph that ranks sixth in MLB, has six quality starts in his last seven games, with a 3.00 ERA during that span. He has lasted seven innings in each of his last three starts and in four of his last five games.
Sunday, 1:10 p.m. (Prime Ticket)
Zack Greinke came within one out of a shutout in his last start, on Monday against the Cubs, but had the audacity to allow two runs. That pushed his total to 12 runs allowed over his last 10 starts, with a 1.49 ERA during that span. Tyson Ross rejoined the Padres' rotation on July 23 and allowed just five total runs in his next five starts, with 36 strikeouts and 10 walks in 34 innings. But Ross has allowed 11 runs in 12⅓ innings in his last two starts, both Padres losses. He has lasted at least six innings in each of his last seven starts.