Dodgers vs Padres Preview: Pitching Tonight Sparks Big Story

The Dodgers came into San Diego down one game after the Padres rocked them 7-1 on Friday night. Mookie Betts smashed a solo shot early, but that wasn't nearly enough. The Padres' bats came alive in the second inning when Ty France launched a three-run homer. Then in the eighth inning, they just kept piling on runs. Now the Dodgers need to bounce back Sunday. Their 53-30 record shows they're still one of baseball's best teams. Can Emmet Sheehan and the pitching staff shut down San Diego's hot bats today?

Michael King will start for the Padres Sunday. He's had a solid season with a 3.41 ERA and a 1.29 WHIP. The Padres know they can't rely on just one strong outing. They need their pitching staff to stay sharp. Right now, San Diego is 43-38. That's good enough to stay in the hunt, but not great. German Marquez should be coming back soon from injury. If their rotation stays healthy, the Padres believe they can beat anyone. King needs to keep the Dodgers' powerful lineup under control today.

Los Angeles has some big names missing from the lineup today. Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow are both hurt. Edwin Díaz is recovering from elbow surgery. Even Will Smith won't travel on this road trip because of a neck injury. But wait—Teoscar Hernandez just came back from his hamstring problem. That's huge for the Dodgers' lineup. The team's 53-30 record shows they still have plenty of firepower. Emmet Sheehan gets his shot to lead the pitching attack. Let's see if the Dodgers can fight back on the road.