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Series Preview, pt. 2: Padres Head to Oakland

By Nick Lee |
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Apr 6, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; General view before the game between the Oakland Athletics and the Texas Rangers at O.co Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Kelley L Cox-USA TODAY Sports

The San Diego Padres (32-35) limp into Oakland to finish the four game home and away series with the Athletics (28-39). Yesterday was a hard-fought game and the Padres have not been able to find a way to put away the A’s so far.

The A’s outscored the Padres 15-6 in the first two games. The series now shifts to O.co Coliseum. Offensively the Padres showed lots of life in the second game but the bullpen continues to be unlike the 2014 version.

Game 1, Wednesday 7:05pm

Odrisamer Despaigne (3-4, 4.38 ERA) vs. Jesse Chavez (2-6, 2.64 ERA)

Despaigne makes his 10th start of the season. This will be his first career start in Oakland and also against the Athletics. He has a career 5.40 ERA in 3 interleague games. He had an excellent start last time out against the Dodgers, going 6 1/3 innings while only allowing one run.

Chavez has allowed 7 runs in his last two starts but has been really effective otherwise. This is his 8th year in the big leagues and fourth with Oakland. He has pitched just 5 1/3 innings against the Padres with a 5.06 ERA in his career.

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Jun 16, 2015; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres center fielder Melvin Upton Jr. (right) is congratulated by third baseman Will Middlebrooks (11) after scoring on the balk of Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Scott Kazmir (not pictured) during the fifth inning at Petco Park. Mandatory Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Game 2 Thursday, 12:35pm

Ian Kennedy (3-5, 5.84 ERA) vs. Kendall Graveman (3-3, 4.22 ERA)

Kennedy has struggled much of this season but turned in a good start his last time out. Against the Dodgers he went 7 innings and only allowed one run on 4 hits. That was one of his best outings of the season. He only has had one start against the Athletics back in 2011. It was not a good one as he was tagged for 7 runs.

Graveman will be making his 10th career start. The 24 year-old rookie is coming off of a fantastic start against the Angels when he went 8 innings and only allowed one run with 7 strikeouts. In his last 15 innings pitched, he has 13 strikeouts and only 2 earned runs.

The Padres cannot afford to stumble anymore against inferior teams. The A’s swept them at Petco Park, now the Friars look to return the favor. I think they will split these games. Graveman and Chavez both have pitched well for them this year. Melvin Upton Jr. had a hit in each of the first two games of this series. He will see much more playing time with Wil Myers still out indefinitely.

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