Hiroki Kuroda goes for his fourth straight win on Tuesday night as the Los Angeles Dodgers battle the San Diego Padres in the second game of a three-game series at Dodger Stadium. Kuroda has been a model of consistency in his four years with the Dodgers.
From the start of 2008, there have been 84 major league pitchers to throw at least 500 innings. Among those pitchers, Kuroda ranks 21st in ERA (3.43), 16th in FIP (3.47), and 21st in xFIP (3.63). This season Kuroda has 19 quality starts in 26 outings, and he has pitched at least six innings in 10 straight starts.
Kuroda went nearly four months without winning a game in which he allowed a run, but has received better run support of late. After having 24 runs scored in a 12-start stretch from June 3 to August 8, Kuroda has received 24 runs of support in his last three starts, all wins.
In three starts against the Padres this season, Kuroda has allowed two total runs. He won twice at Petco Park, pitching a combined 15 2/3 scoreless innings, and got a no decision allowing two runs in seven innings on April 30 at Dodger Stadium, a game the Padres eventually won. Kuroda in his career is 7-4 with a 3.49 ERA in 13 starts against San Diego, his most wins against any opponent.
Tim Stauffer gets the start for the Padres, his fourth start this season against the Dodgers. Stauffer has quality starts in each outing, and a 1.89 ERA with seven walks and 10 strikeouts in 19 innings, but just one win to show for it. The Dodgers are 9-4 against the Padres this season, including 5-2 at Dodger Stadium.
Tuesday night's 7:10 p.m. PDT game will be televised by KCAL. For more news and information on the Dodgers, be sure to read True Blue LA.