San Diego Padres Go For Split on the Road Against the Los Angeles Dodgers

Jul 2, 2014; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Tyson Ross (right) and catcher Rene Rivera (44) congratulate one another after Ross threw a complete game shutout of the Cincinnati Reds to beat them 3-0 at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Headed into the four game series at Dodger Stadium this weekend, the San Diego Padres would have liked their chances in games featuring three or fewer combined runs. Three days later though the Padres have lost a pair of pitcher’s duels while they clubbed out six runs in a three run win over the Los Angeles Dodgers in game two.

All of that sets up a fourth game and a chance to split the series this afternoon at Chavez Ravine at 1:10. All-Star Tyson Ross (7-9, 2.93) will face off against Hyun-jin Ryu (9-5, 3.65).

This will be the third appearance for Ross against the Dodgers. He is 0-2 with a 2.57 ERA against Los Angeles this year. The line-up has given him a total of three runs of support in his two starts against the Dodgers. This is the first time he will face LA on the road after starts at Petco on 4/2 and 6/21. Ross has been brilliant over his last three starts with just four runs allowed over 22 innings pitched. The highlight of the trio came two starts ago when the right-hander tossed a complete game shut-out against Cincinnati, allowing three hits and punching out nine.

Ryu, the left-hander out of Incheon, South Korea, will make his third start of the season against the Padres, picking up a win and a no decision as the teams split a pair of low scoring games in the two starts. In 13 innings pitched against the Padres Ryu allowed just a single run on seven hits. Overall Ryu is riding a two game losing streak that spans his last three starts. He imploded on July 8 on the road at Detroit, allowing seven runs on 10 hits in two and one thirds innings pitched. Prior to that outing Ryu had not allowed more than three runs in an outing since June 11. In 11 of 17 starts Ryu allowed two or fewer runs this season.

With a chance at the split today, the Padres will try to avoid losing their third straight series this month. A three game sweep of Cincinnati, capped off on July 2, marks the last series win for San Diego. Since then they dropped two of three to the Giants and Rockies last weekend and earlier this week.

With the 2-1 start to this series the Dodger have won six of the last ten meetings between the two clubs as they hold a 6-3 edge so far this season. The Dodgers took the last two season sets with the Padres, winning 11 games in both 2013 and 2012. All time the Dodgers hold a 406-365 edge.

Following four days off for the MLB All-Star Break, The Padres return home for a short stint with a three game series against the Mets. A six game road trip, including a trip to the East Coast to take on the Braves on July 25, 26, 27 and 28. The trip will begin with three at Wrigley Field.