Just two weeks into the 2013 Major League Baseball season, the National League West Division has already displayed its competitive nature. The San Diego Padres prepare to take on the fiery Los Angeles Dodgers on the road beginning at 7:10 p.m tonight. The series comes on the heels of Padres outfielder Carlos Quentin injuring the Dodgers’ $147 million-dollar pitcher Zack Greinke in a brawl last Thursday in San Diego. This may be the start of a new baseball rivalry in Southern California.
Batting:
Padres: The Padres don’t have anything to lose. Most baseball writers and experts expect the Padres to finish the season in fourth place in a five-team NL West Division. Third baseman Chase Headley is still nursing an injured thumb he suffered during spring training, but may return as early as Tuesday. Power hitting Quentin will serve an eight-game suspension for his actions in last week’s brawl, which leaves the Padres shorthanded for power in their batting lineup.
Dodgers: With a lineup full of sluggers, the Dodgers have the highest expectations in the division heading into this season. They’ve accepted about $260 million worth of salary from the Boston Red Sox last season, which sent former Padre first baseman Adrian Gonzalez and outfielder Carl Crawford to Hollywood. Power hitting
outfielder Matt Kemp is healthy after hitting 39 home runs and stealing 40 bases two seasons ago, but missed more than 50 games last season because of
various injuries.
Edge: Dodgers
Pitching:
Padres: The starting rotation of the pitching staff is led by veterans Edinson Volquez and Jason Marquis, who both have postseason experience. After going 11-11 last season, Volquez is off to a rocky start so far, going 0-3 to start the season. The bullpen is the strength of the Padres pitching starting with veteran closer Huston Street, who only blew one save last season, and relief pitcher Luke Gregerson, who’s nearly a shutdown relief pitcher, having 107 holds throughout the last four years.
Dodgers: Despite Greinke’s injury, the Dodgers still have one of the most solid pitching staffs in the NL West. Clayton Kershaw was elected as an all-star last season for a second consecutive year and won the NL Cy Young Award two seasons ago. Veterans Chad Billingsley and Josh Beckett also add to the depth of the rotation, having both won more than 80 games in their major league careers.
Edge: Dodgers
Defense:
Padres: The Padres will look to improve their defense as the season continues, after nearly leading the league with 121 errors last season, just behind the Colorado Rockies’ 122. The team has a .978 fielding percentage and has committed nine errors in 11 games so far this season.
Dodgers: The Dodgers are a mediocre defensive team. They are third in the NL West Division so far in fielding percentage at .985, while committing six errors in 11 games. Last season, the Dodgers ranked No. 11 in best fielding statistics out of 30 major
league teams.
Edge: Dodgers
Intangibles:
Padres: The Padres have nothing to lose, which may be the reason they steal a game or two this series on the road in LA. As the underdogs in the division this season, expectations for the team aren’t high. Without Headley and Quentin in the lineup this series, the Padres need to be aggressive on the base paths to create offense. The Padres finished second in the NL West with 155 steals last season.
Dodgers: Kemp was furious after being ejected in a brawl between the two teams when they last met in San Diego, so don’t be surprised to see him take his frustration out with a bat this series. So far, Crawford has compiled a .410 batting average, leading the team with 11 runs and playing like he’s on pace for a bounce-back year after two disappointing seasons in Boston. Gonzalez is also off to a solid start hitting .375, with two home runs and 10 RBIs after 11 games
this season.
Look for Kemp to wake up his bat this series after a slow start hitting just .205 so far after 11 games in the season. Kemp has the chance to really make a difference in this series. I’m sure memory of the brawl will add to
his motivation.
Edge: Dodgers
Impact player
Prediction: With a heated rivalry between these two teams, the Padres will find a way to compete and claim at least one win, avoiding a three-game sweep from the Dodgers.
Notes:
-The Dodgers come into this game with a 7-4 record this season, sitting two games out of first place from the San Francisco Giants in the NL West.
-Quentin is serving an eight-game suspension for the Padres and will not be available for the series.
-Greinke suffered a broken left collarbone from Quentin after a brawl Thursday.
