The San Diego Padres had a winning record to open July for the first time in nearly a decade, and despite a four-game skid, perhaps they will have even more to be optimistic about when they begin a four-game series in Los Angeles on Thursday against the Dodgers.
The Padres will welcome back right-hander Dinelson Lamet for the first time in 15 months. The 26-year old has finally recovered from Tommy John surgery, which cost him the entire 2018 season.
If Lamet looks anything like he did in his rookie season of 2017, the Padres can count on even more winning. Or at least they can count on the end of their losing streak, which has dropped them to two games under .500.
Lamet was 7-8 in 2017 with a 4.57 ERA, numbers that look pedestrian at face value. But he had 139 strikeouts in 114 1/3 innings with a mid-90s fastball and a well-above-average slider.
The Padres are adding Lamet to a rotation that includes promising young arms like Chris Paddack and Joey Lucchesi. Then there are Matt Strahm, Eric Lauer, Cal Quantrill and Logan Allen.
“The more depth we get, the more opportunity we have to create the right environment for the guys who need rest,” Padres manager Andy Green said, according to mlb.com.
Lamet faced the Dodgers twice in 2017, losing both games. But that does not mean he did not pitch well. Pitching in San Diego, he gave up one run and struck out 10 over six innings on Sept. 1, but the Dodgers won 1-0. He had a rougher time in his final start that year, giving up four runs on four hits with six walks in five innings at Dodger Stadium. He struck out seven.
The Dodgers will send left-hander Hyun-Jin Ryu (9-1, 1.83 ERA) to the mound in what is expected to be his final outing before he starts for the National League in Tuesday’s All-Star Game at Cleveland.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts will manage the NL team and has said he expects Ryu to be his starter in the showcase game.
“It’s definitely an honor and a privilege,” Ryu said through an interpreter about his All-Star selection, according to mlb.com. “There definitely have been ups and downs, including my injuries, and having a good first half like I had, it resulted in my first All-Star Game. I’m going to enjoy it, but also prepare as best I can and hopefully do a good job there.”
Ryu will look to rebound from a rough outing at Colorado, when he gave up seven runs over four innings on Friday. It was the first time he had given up more than two earned runs in an outing all season, and it was his first loss since April 20.
Ryu knows success against the Padres. He is 7-1 against San Diego in 10 career starts with a 2.26 ERA.
If Ryu can keep the Dodgers close, the team figures to tap into its late-game charm once again. The Dodgers have won five consecutive home games in walk-off fashion. The latest came Wednesday when Cody Bellinger hit a home run in the bottom of the 10th inning for a 5-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Four of those five walk-off victories have come on home runs. On the previous homestand, the Dodgers received game-ending homers from three rookies: Matt Beaty, Alex Verdugo and Will Smith.
The Dodgers have won eight consecutive home games.