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Padres Look to Slow Dodgers in home finale

By Jonathan Goehring

May 13, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Christian Friedrich (53) throws a pitch during the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
May 13, 2016; Milwaukee, WI, USA; San Diego Padres pitcher Christian Friedrich (53) throws a pitch during the second inning against the Milwaukee Brewers at Miller Park. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Another season of San Diego Padres baseball is coming to a close. Tonight, the club makes one final stand in front of their home fans at Petco Park against a familiar foe, the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Entering the contest, the San Diego Padres stand at 68-90, while the Dodgers have earned a 90-68 record. These 90 wins have proven to be enough to clinch a Los Angeles fourth consecutive NL West crown.

The Padres will look to surprise baseball for the third night in a row, following two straight wins, including an impressive victory Wednesday night. Getting two wins in a row against a formidable opponent such as the Dodgers would serve as a statement to baseball that the Padres have little interest in merely going through the motions.

Although the season may not have gone as intended, these final games are worthwhile for fans to tune into, as young players who represent the future of the organization will be on display.

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Most notably, the Padres will send 29-year-old Christian Friedrich to the mound to face a formidable Dodgers lineup.

Highlighting San Diego’s lineup is Hunter Renfroe, the young outfielder whose power was on full display Wednesday night, proving to be the difference in the triumph.  Renfroe will hit fifth, in a Padres lineup which will be facing 20-year-old Julio Urias.

The remainder of the lineup is as follows:

  1. Margot – CF
  2. Jay – LF
  3. Myers – 1B
  4. Solarte – 3B
  5. Renfroe – RF
  6. Norris – C
  7. Asuaje – 2B
  8. Sardinas – SS
  9. Friedrich – P

Friedrich, a native of Eastern Kentucky University, will be looking to add to the strongest campaign of his career. His 5-11 record or 4.66 ERA may not be eye-popping, but Friedrich’s strides this season have been evident. A solid outing in his final start tonight would give him as well as the organization confidence entering next season.

It won’t be easy, though, as the Dodgers have one of the most potent lineups in baseball.

Tonight, they will send these nine hitters to the plate:

  1. Kendrick – 1B
  2. Culberson – SS
  3. Turner – 3B
  4. Puig – RF
  5. Ruiz – C
  6. Hernandez – 2B
  7. Segedin – LF
  8. Pederson – CF
  9. Urias – P

With a 68-90 record entering the final four games of the season, the 70 win mark is still very attainable for a Padres organization who is seeking steady improvement.

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A win tonight would make this mark one that the Padres would most likely reach, as they square off with the Arizona Diamondbacks in the final series of the year this weekend.

To get the win, the club will need to get into the Dodgers’ bullpen and force the opposition to become disinterested in the game. Both of these keys can be achieved by pouncing on offense early in the game, quite a possibility considering the inexperience of the opposing starting pitcher.

Clearly, the Padres are playing for nothing more than pride. But pride can be sufficient motivation for a team performing in front of their home fans for the final time in 2016.

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First pitch is set for 6:10 PM PT, and can be seen on Fox Sports San Diego locally, or as the free game of the day on MLB.TV.

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