The Dodgers look for their third straight win Saturday night, hosting the Padres in the second game of a three game series at Dodger Stadium. Hiroki Kuroda gets the call for the Dodgers, while Tim Stauffer starts for San Diego. Andre Ethier will look to extend his hitting streak to 26 games tonight, extending his own MLB record for longest hitting streak in April.
Ethier, who is hitting .375/.444/.558, and Matt Kemp, hitting .373/.453/.627, have carried the Dodgers offense this season. However, the third and fourth hitters in the Dodger lineup have been helped by Juan Uribe of late. Uribe has 12 hits, including three home runs, in his last 26 at-bats. However, that production by Uribe has been spread over 12 days, as he was out of the lineup for five straight games with tightness in his left thigh. Uribe returned to the lineup Friday night, and contributed a double and a home run, helping the Dodgers to a 3-2 win.
Kuroda is 3-2 this season and leads the Dodgers with a 3.21 ERA. He is seventh in the National League with a 4.6 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Stauffer also has a 3.21 ERA this season, but has no wins to show for it, thanks to poor run support. The Padres have scored five runs in Stauffer's five starts while he was in the game. The Padres have scored just 18 runs in their last 11 contests. Tonight's 7:10 p.m. game will be televised by Prime Ticket.
For more news and information on the Dodgers, or on tonight's game, be sure to read the SB Nation blog True Blue LA.