Game 59 Preview: Padres at Dodgers

This is about as must-win as a game in early June can be. After dropping the first two games of a three game road set to the truly hated Dodgers, the Padres are clinging to fourth place by a mere half game. A sweep would put our Friars in the cellar for the first time in a month. But that's not going to happen.

The Padres hitters will have their hands full with 2011 SBN NL Cy Young Award co-winner Clayton Kershaw. He has a 1.85 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP with a .185 BAA this season, all better than his career averages. Kershaw has a lifetime 8-4 record with a 2.41 ERA against San Diego but he did lose his last game against them. He gave up five runs, three earned, over 5.1 innings at home versus the Padres April 17, giving up homers to Kyle Blanks, Everth Cabrera, and Chris Denorfia. Here's how he's done lifetime against tonight's lineup

1. Denorfia - 6-22, 2 2B, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 2 BB
2. Cabrera - 2-13, 2B, HR, 2 RBI, 2 BB
3. Headley - 7-40, 2 2B, 3 RBI, BB
4. Quentin - 3-8, 2B, RBI, BB
5. Gyorko - 0-3
6. Blanks - 3-13, HR, 2 RBI
7. Guzman - 3-18, 2B, RBI, BB
8. Grandal - 3-5, 2B, BB
9. Marquis - 1-2

Jason Marquis has put together a solid season for San Diego so far, with a 6-2 record and a 3.82 ERA in 63.2 innings over 11 starts. His history against the Dodgers is pretty similar to Kershaw's versus the Padres. Marquis is 7-4 with a 2.53 ERA against Los Angeles and won his last start against them. He gave up one run on three hits and a walk over 7.2 innings on April 16, striking out five.

1. Puig - first time facing
2. Schumaker - 1-7, RBI, BB
3. Gonzalez - 7-27, 3 2B, HR, 4 RBI, 6 BB
4. Ramirez - 8-23, 2 2B, HR, RBI, 2 BB
5. Ethier - 3-30, RBI, 3 BB
6. Van Slyke - FTF
7. Uribe - 7-23, 2 2B, HR, 2 RBI, BB
8. Federwhatever- FTF
9. Kershaw - 0-1, BB

The main side plots of this series are still in play. The Dodgers still haven't drilled Carlos Quentin yet, and their brand new outfielder guy is still basking in the spotlight. It'd be nice to see him get his first oh-fer on the way out of town.

Go Padres! Keep the faith!