• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Padres-Dodgers Preview

Sep 4, 2009 - 6:53 AM By ANTHONY GIORNALISTA STATS Senior Writer

San Diego (59-76) at Los Angeles (80-55), 10:10 p.m. EDT

Manny Ramirez is starting to come around at the plate after enduring a long power slump. Matchups with the San Diego Padres this year haven't helped the slugger's cause, but he's yet to face Wade LeBlanc.

The Dodgers hope Ramirez can end his struggles against the Padres, who are set to send the beleaguered rookie to the mound Friday night.

Ramirez hit a game-tying home run as Los Angeles (80-55) beat Arizona 4-2 on Thursday night to split a four-game series.

The NL West-leading Dodgers have gotten strong play from Ramirez over the past week. The veteran left fielder has three homers and five RBIs in his last six games after connecting twice in his previous 33.

Ramirez has 16 home runs in 285 at-bats. He has two homers in 10 games with a .207 batting average versus the Padres (59-76) this season.

Ramirez and the Dodgers, though, open this three-game series with a what appears to be a favorable matchup. LeBlanc (0-1, 9.58 ERA) has surrendered nine home runs in 31 2-3 career innings and is 0-2 with a 9.24 ERA in three career starts against Los Angeles.

Ramirez went 2 for 6 with one homer versus the left-hander last year.

LeBlanc struggled in his first start after being recalled from Triple-A Portland on Saturday. He faced Florida that night, allowing four runs in six innings of a 7-4 San Diego victory.

Los Angeles will counter with Clayton Kershaw (8-7, 2.94), who is 5-2 with a 1.82 ERA in his last 15 starts. Kershaw, though, has pitched over seven innings once during that stretch.

The left-hander gave up two runs and struck out 11 in seven innings as Los Angeles beat Cincinnati 3-2 in 12 innings Sunday.

Kershaw is 2-1 with a 3.31 ERA in six starts versus the Padres, who are batting .318 while averaging 6.1 runs in winning nine of 15 road games.

San Diego is coming off a three-game sweep of Washington at home, winning the finale 7-0 on Wednesday.

The Padres, winners of seven of nine and 21 of 35, are eager to face the Dodgers and prove their recent success hasn't been a fluke.

"I hope our team beats up on them," San Diego first baseman Adrian Gonzalez told the team's official Web site. "I think it will be a lot of fun, the intensity of the games."

The Padres have been led by players such as left fielder Chase Headley, who went 1 for 3 with two RBIs Wednesday. He's batting .328 in his last 34 games after hitting .232 in his first 95.

Dodgers third baseman Casey Blake, who has been slumping, is coming off a 3-for-4 effort after going 3 for 30 in his previous eight games. Blake is hitting .222 with one RBI in six home games against the Padres this season.

Los Angeles had won five straight and 10 of 11 at home against San Diego before a 3-1 loss June 10. The Dodgers lead the season series 9-4.