Dodgers Preview: ’24 NLDS Rematch Kicks Off in San Diego

SAN DIEGO, CA — For the first time since their epic clash in the 2024 National League Division Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres will meet for an early-season pivotal series with just one game separating the two in the National League West standings.

Despite securing a win on Sunday thanks to a dominant vintage Kershaw performance, the Dodgers have been struggling over the last two months.

Since starting out the season 8-0, the Dodgers are just four games over .500 with a record of 31-27; however, in that time, no one has stepped up to challenge the Dodgers for first place in the NL West.

Pitching has been the main issue for the Dodgers this year, particularly the starting rotation, which ranks in the bottom third of the league in ERA, innings pitched, WHIP, and FIP.

However, their series in St. Louis was a different story, with the Dodgers hitting a combined 1-for-27 with RISP over the first two games over the weekend, with the streak extending to twenty-eight after Ohtani was stranded at second base in the top of the first inning yesterday.

Still, the Dodgers rank in the top three in the league in multiple offensive categories such as OPS, OPS+, wRC+, and runs.

The Dodgers will continue their six-game road trip to hostile Petco Park, hoping to improve their record on the road this season, where they currently sit at 16-16.

Much like the Dodgers, the Padres have also been in a funk since their undefeated start to the year, just two games over .500 since May 1st with an 18-16 record.

However, the Friars have been much better lately with six wins over their last ten games, including a series win over the Milwaukee Brewers and a four-game split with the San Francisco Giants.

Pitching match-ups

Game One: Dustin May (3-4, 4.09 ERA) vs Nick Pivetta (6-2, 3.16 ERA)

Game Two: TBD (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs Dylan Cease (1-5, 4.72 ERA)

Game Three: Justin Wrobleski (LHP) (1-2, 7.20 ERA) vs Randy Vásquez (3-4, 3.69 ERA)

Game Times

Game One: 6:40 PM PT, SportsNet LA, Padres TV

Game Two: 6:40 PM PT, SportsNet LA, Padres TV

Game Three: 1:10 PM PT, SportsNet LA, Padres TV

Who’s in & who’s out?

While the Los Angeles Dodgers activated two pitchers off the injured list this weekend, Michael Kopech and Kirby Yates, they lost another arm in the starting rotation.

Right-handed pitcher Tony Gonsolin is the latest arm to join the growing injured list. This time with right elbow discomfort.

An MRI revealed that the UCL was intact, but the Dodgers do not have a timetable for his return. In the meantime,e expect lefty Justin Wrobleski and righty Landon Knack to fill in for the starting rotation.

The other big news from this series is that lefty Blake Snell will throw his first bullpen since shutting down from throwing in April after feeling discomfort in his left shoulder.

Snell, 32, has been on the injured list since April, and of the starters on the IL, he seems to be the “closest” to returning.

Two-way superstar and three-time MVP Shohei Ohtani is also set to face live hitters in San Diego after having his most recent session delayed due to the weather in St. Louis and being hit by a pitch in yesterday’s series finale.

15-day Injured List (4): Tyler Glasnow, Roki Sasaki, Luis García, Tony Gonsolin

60-day Injured List (10): Blake Snell, Brusdar Graterol, Michael Grove, Gavin Stone, River Ryan, Kyle Hurt, Emmet Sheehan, Edgardo Henriquez, Blake Treinen, Evan Phillips

The San Diego Padres, like the Los Angeles Dodgers, have primarily been hit in the pitching department regarding their injured list this season.

The two most significant injuries have been to right-handed starters Yu Darvish (elbow) and Michael King (shoulder), creating two holes in their starting rotation.

Darvish, 38, started a minor league rehab assignment on May 14th but felt soreness. However, the veteran righty has progressed well since he resumed throwing. Darvish threw a twenty-pitch bullpen session on June 3rd, and the Padres are eying a July activation date.

King, 30, has not progressed much since landing on the injured list last month, just throwing light catches. His MRI on May 24th showed that despite the injury, his shoulder is structurally sound and he should not require season-ending surgery.

On the position player side, the Padres will continue to be without former Dodger and Freddie Freeman‘s best friend Jason Heyward as the veteran outfielder was placed on the 10-day IL due to a left oblique strain.

Heyward, 35, is expected to be out most of the summer with a possible August return date. It was his second stint on the IL this year, the first being left knee inflammation in April.

10-day Injured List (1): Jason Heyward

15-day Injured List (3): Yu Darvish, Logan Gillaspie, Michael King

60-day Injured List (3): Joe Musgrove, Bryan Hoeing, Jhony Brito

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