Padres host Dodgers to start 3-game series
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SB Nation on MSNDodgers and Padres battle for first place
Possessing an identical record, the Dodgers and Padres meet in San Diego for the second-to-last time this season, with the promise of yet another close game
Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts praises Blake Snell after tough loss to the San Diego Padres in an NL West clash at Petco Park.
The Padres have effectively played shorthanded the last few days, with Ramón Laureano sliding over from left to center field and Gavin Sheets backfilling the left-field vacancy. Merrill's unavailability has coincided with shortstop Xander Bogaerts and second baseman Jake Cronenworth both missing a game apiece because of their own ills.
That’s because here, at Petco Park, they have consistently bottled successful baseball. Only one team, the league-leading Milwaukee Brewers, has a better winning percentage at home. The Padres have not lost a series in the East Village since the second week of June, when the Dodgers took two of three games.
San Diego Padres star Manny Machado was overjoyed to see starting pitcher Yu Darvish perform so well against the Dodgers.
The Los Angeles Dodgers activated reliever Tanner Scott from the injured list before their key weekend series against the San Diego Padres.
Los Angeles is now two games up in the standings, with a 71-53 record. The Dodgers are on the road for a four game series at Colorado, before these two teams meet up again next weekend, this time in San Diego. The Padres are now 69-55, and will start a four game series against the Giants on Monday.