San Diego Padres: Pitching Matchups for Series vs. Dodgers

Friday – Lucchesi vs. Buehler

The Padres will send rookie left-hander Joey Lucchesi to the bump tonight to face another MLB neophyte, the Dodgers’ young right-hander, Walker Buehler.

After making his debut last season in the Dodgers’ bullpen (9.1 innings, eight earned runs, eleven hits, twelve strikeouts, eight walks), Buehler, 23, went 1-0 with a 2.08 earned-run average in three starts with Triple-A Oklahoma City this year.

Since being called up for his first career start on April 23 versus Miami, he’s pitched to a 1.80 earned run average over ten innings with eleven strikeouts and four walks in two starts.

Joey Lucchesi hasn’t really slowed down at all yet this year, apart from a very tough inning versus the Diamondbacks on April 22.

His numbers for the season (3-1, 2.78 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 35 K, 10 BB) have put him in the conversation for early candidacy in the NL Rookie of the Year race.

A performance tonight like his one against the Giants on April 15 (6 IP, ER, 5 H, 9 K, 0 BB) would further solidify that premature yet very true declaration. Plus, it would give this offensively-anemic Padres team a fighting chance to win tonight.

Saturday – Mitchell vs. Maeda

Bryan Mitchell will square-off against Kenta Maeda on Saturday. Mitchell, 27, has not had himself a good year by any stretch. His 6.07 ERA and 1.89 WHIP tells pretty much the entire story.

Even a few stretches of “decent” innings have continuously come to screeching halts with a crooked-numbered inning following soon thereafter.

The idea has been floated by manager Andy Green, pundits, and fans alike that Mitchell could be pitching for his spot in the Padres’ rotation. He may, in fact, be doing just that tonight.

Kenta Maeda has been terrific since making his MLB debut in 2016. His 3.80 career earned-run average and 1.17 WHIP, while averaging just under 93 mph on his four-seam fastball, as per Statcast, is extremely impressive in an era of power pitchers.

His stats this year are another testament to his consistency. His 3.76 ERA is right on par with his career marks, though his WHIP is up around 1.5 (1.48), well above his career averages. This could be an opportunity for the Padres to pounce.

Carlos Asuaje (.571 in seven at-bats), Freddy Galvis (.417, one home run in 12 at-bats), and Manuel Margot (.400 in ten at-bats) have all had success against Maeda in the past so expect to see them in there on Saturday.

Sunday – Lauer vs. Hill

Twenty-two-year-old left-hander, Eric Lauer will make his third start for the San Diego Padres on Sunday. He’ll go up against another left-hander, albeit a much older one, in Rich Hill.

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Lauer was hit hard in his first start versus the Colorado Rockies on April 24, getting touched up for six earned runs on six hits in three innings.

His next outing against the Giants on Monday wasn’t outstanding, but it was a great improvement over his first MLB appearance the week before.

He went five innings, allowing three earned runs on seven hits, struck out seven and walked two. Not too shabby.

Hopefully, another leap forward is what we’re in store for.

Rich Hill has had a tougher run this season than he has over the last few years.

His 6.00 ERA and 1.60 WHIP are well above his career numbers in those areas (4.00 and 1.26, respectively).

Next: Hosmer Has Been on a Validating Tear

In his last start against the Diamondbacks on April 14, he gave up seven runs on seven hits over five innings. Hill hasn’t made a start since that day due to an injury to the middle finger on his (left) throwing hand.

Margot (.333 in nine at-bats) is the only Padres’ player with a decent amount of success against Hill. Apparently, the rest of the Friars lineup is due.