Padres Series Preview: Snakes Come To Town

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Apr 8, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Andrew Cashner (34) in the second inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Game 1, Monday 7:10pm

Andrew Cashner (0-1, 9.00 ERA) vs. Rubby De La Rosa (1-0, 10.13 ERA)

This is a battle of starters who are looking to prove they are better than their abysmal first starts of the year. We all know the story of Cashner’s first start. It was historically bad. He served up a platter of carnitas with rice to Adrian Gonzalez thrice (a meal more relevant to the setting of Dodger Stadium). Gonzalez licked his chops and went 4 for 4 with three dingers off of Cashner.

Cashner was visibly upset with himself and the entire Padre team (and fan base) was discouraged that night. However, this is a new day. He faces a young Domincan right-hander who himself struggled his first time out. De La Rosa allowed six earned runs in five innings but miraculously still got the win.

De La Rosa has faced the Friars once before, going six innings while walking four and striking out eight in one start in 2011, when he was with the Dodgers.

Cashner has a much deeper history with Arizona. In eight starts, he is 3-2 with 31 strikeouts and a 3.50 ERA. He also has appeared four other games in relief against the D-backs. Cashner is certainly happy to be back home where holds a 2.07 career ERA.

A matchup to watch out for is Paul Goldschmidt against Cashner. Goldschmidt is a .444 hitter against him with a home run and three RBI.

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