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Dodgers-Padres Preview

Jul 29, 2010 - 6:41 AM By BRETT HUSTON STATS Writer

Los Angeles (54-47) at San Diego (59-40), 6:35 p.m. EDT

Runs have been hard to come by as the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres have split the first two games of their series at Petco Park.

It would be quite surprising if that trend didn't continue in the finale.

Vicente Padilla and Mat Latos have two of the majors' lowest ERAs over their last five outings, but the Dodgers can boast a new offensive addition Thursday as they try to stop the Padres from winning an eighth consecutive game started by Latos.

Padilla (4-3, 3.41 ERA) is 3-1 with a 1.04 ERA in his last five starts, but that won't make him the hottest pitcher going Thursday as the Dodgers (54-47) try to avoid falling seven games behind the West-leading Padres (59-40).

That title belongs to Latos, who is 4-0 with a major league-best 0.80 ERA since June 22. He hasn't lost in seven starts since June 4, and San Diego has won them all as the big right-hander has struck out 50 in 46 1-3 innings.

Latos (11-4, 2.48) was shut down around the All-Star break after allegedly suffering a left oblique strain while holding back a sneeze. Fifteen days between starts didn't seem to faze him, holding Pittsburgh to two runs over six innings Saturday in a 9-2 win.

"I didn't see anything that would indicate any time off," manager Bud Black told the Padres' official website. "We were watching his delivery more than anything, to see if it was out of sync. I thought the command was good."

Latos was wild in losing his lone start against the Dodgers, which came Sept. 5 at Chavez Ravine. He gave up three hits but walked five over three innings, allowing four runs - two earned - in a 7-4 defeat.

Los Angeles won Tuesday's series opener 2-0 despite being held to five hits and had only four Wednesday - none after the fourth inning - in a 6-1 defeat.

"Unfortunately, when you are not scoring a lot of runs, you're putting a great deal of stress on the pitching," manager Joe Torre said. "Every single pitch you make is crucial."

Los Angeles made a move just before Wednesday's game that could ignite an offense that has scored 12 runs in seven games. The Dodgers acquired outfielder Scott Podsednik from Kansas City for a pair of minor leaguers.

Podsednik, among the major league leaders with 30 steals, is batting .379 during a 15-game hitting streak and gives the Dodgers another solid hitter with Manny Ramirez still on the disabled list.

"He drives in a lot of runs from a high spot in the order, and he has a lot of speed," said general manager Ned Colletti, who expects Podsednik to be available Thursday. "He can add a lot of different dimensions to our club."

Padilla, meanwhile, hasn't started at San Diego since 2005 - he's 1-1 with a 3.67 ERA in seven starts against the Padres - and he's found the road a much tougher place to pitch this season. The right-hander has a 2.02 ERA in five outings at Dodger Stadium, but he's at 4.91 through six road starts.

He gave up two runs - one earned - over seven innings in a 6-1 home loss Friday against St. Louis.

"Padilla was sensational," Torre told the Dodgers' official website. "We (just) couldn't generate any offense."

Los Angeles has scored one or zero runs 23 times.