The Dodgers have taken the first two of this three-game set in L.A. so for the second series in a row the Padres will be looking to salvage the final game and avoid a sweep. They'll send Tyson Ross to the mound to get the job done, as he's been able to do for the most part since rejoining the rotation. In his first five starts after returning as a starter, Ross went 3-1 with a 1.32 ERA in five starts whie racking up 36 strikeouts. His last two starts haven't been as good, though, as he's given up a combined 11 runs in 12 1/3 innings and coming out on the losing end of both decisions. In his most recent outing, he gave up a season-high six runs on seven hits and was unable to record an out before being pulled in the 7th.
Today he'll make his fourth appearance against he Dodgers, all prior outings having taken place earlier this season. He is 0-1 with a 3.60 ERA in those previous appearances, including one start and spanning 10 total innings. The start came on April 17th at Dodger Stadium, during his first stint in the rotation this season, and he allowed just one run on six hits in 4 2/3 innings for the win.
The Padres will need to have more production at the plate if they want to help Ross get the win today. But that might be tough against the Dodgers' best pitcher. Zack Greinke will take the mound for L.A. in the series finale and try to continue his hot streak. He won each of his five starts in August and will be looking to continue that dominance into September and help the Dodgers build on their impressive surge that has led them to a 10.5-game lead in the NL West.
Greinke, who has been the center of as much attention off the field as on it this season, has been one of the major contributors to the Dodgers' 50-13 run over the past couple of months. During that stretch he's gone 10-1 with a 2.14 ERA and a .217 opponents' batting average. In two career starts against the Padres, both L.A. wins, he's gone 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA.
Tune in to the finale between these SoCal NL West rivals this afternoon at 1:10.