The Padres are destined to suck this season because that’s what teams in the middle of a rebuild do. That was made apparent right away, when San Diego got embarrassed by the Dodgers in the season opener Monday, 14-3.
Looking to get their first win of the season, the Padres will send Clayton (not that Clayton) Richard to the mound later tonight. Richard went 3-3 with a 6.43 ERA in nine starts and 11 appearances overall for the Padres in 2016. Richard also has a 2-2 record with a 4.10 ERA in 48.1 innings across nine games in Chavez Ravine dating back to 2010.
Hunter Renfroe fronts the Padres’ future, but went 0-for-4 in the opener against the Dodgers. He hit .371 with four home runs and three doubles in just 36 at-bats in a short appearance last year for the Padres. Renfroe homered and drove three runs off Maeda, when the Padres defeated LA at home, 7-1, back in Sept. 27.
San Diego is 6-1 in Richard’s last seven starts for the team dating back to 2016.
The Dodgers opened the season the perfect way, blowing away San Diego in the aforementioned one-sided contest. They will look to make it two in a row to start the 2017 campaign, as they give the ball to Kenta Maeda.
The Japanese export pitched well last season for the Dodgers, recording a 16-11 record and a 3.48 ERA with a 1.14 WHIP. While he was rocked hard in a late season 7-1 loss to San Diego in 2016, he had his share of excellent performances against the Padres. He tossed six scoreless innings and gave up just six hits in a 7-0 win in San Diego on Apr.6
Backing Maeda are the Dodgers’ hitters who are raring to make a killing at the plate, particularly because they’ve collectively batted well against Richard. The current Dodgers’ lineup has a .376 career batting average opposite the Padres’ lefty. Adrian Gonzalez is 10-for-16 lifetime in the matchup while Franklin Gutierrez is 8-for-15 with a home run off Richard.
LA is 4-2 in its last six at home versus the Padres.
