LA DODGERS (2 - 0) at SAN DIEGO (0 - 0) - 8:05 PM
HYUN-JIN RYU (L) vs. ANDREW CASHNER (R)
There are no Top Trends with records of significance that apply to this game.
Head-to-Head Series History
There were no past matchups in this series during this time period.
HYUN-JIN RYU vs. SAN DIEGO since 1997
RYU is 1-0 when starting against SAN DIEGO with an ERA of 1.42 and a WHIP of 1.422.
His team's record is 1-0 (+1.0 units) in these starts. The OVER is 1-0. (+1.0 units)
ANDREW CASHNER vs. LA DODGERS since 1997
CASHNER is 0-1 when starting against LA DODGERS with an ERA of 0.82 and a WHIP of 1.045.
His team's record is 0-3 (-3.6 units) in these starts. The OVER is 0-3. (-3.2 units)
LA DODGERS vs. SAN DIEGO
The total has gone UNDER in 5 of LA Dodgers's last 5 games when playing on the road against San Diego
LA Dodgers are 4-1 SU in their last 5 games when playing on the road against San Diego
The total has gone UNDER in 9 of San Diego's last 10 games at home
San Diego is 10-4 SU in its last 14 games at home
LA Dodgers at San Diego
RYU: 38-24 in road games against right-handed starters
Cashner: 7-4 TSR at home when the total is 7 or less
Hot pitchers
-- Ryu is 3-2, 2.38 in his last six starts. Cashner is 3-2, 0.96 in his last six.
Cold pitchers
--
Hot teams
-- Dodgers won their first two games, scoring ten runs.
Cold teams
Totals
-- Under is 6-2 in last eight Cashner starts, 5-2 in Ryu's last seven.
Armadillosports.com
Game of the Day: Dodgers at Padres
By Covers.com
Los Angeles Dodgers at San Diego Padres (-105, 6.5)
The Los Angeles Dodgers opened their season last week in Australia with a two-game sweep of their closest competition in the National League West from 2013. On Sunday, they will attempt to carry that success over stateside when they open a three-game road set against the San Diego Padres. The Dodgers saw starters Clayton Kershaw and Hyun-Jin Ryu hold the Arizona Diamondbacks to one run over 11 2/3 innings en route to a pair of two-run victories.
Thanks in large part to the eight days in between regular-season games and a minor back injury to Kershaw, Ryu will become only the third pitcher since 2002 to start back-to-back contests. The Dodgers are also expected to welcome back left fielder Carl Crawford, who will see his first action of 2014 after skipping the Australia trip to attend the birth of his child. The Padres have finished higher than third in the division only once in seven seasons under manager Bud Black and endured three straight losing campaigns, but closed out 2013 on a high note with a 16-11 record in September.
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Hyun-Jin Ryu (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. Padres RH Andrew Cashner (2013: 10-9, 3.09)
LINE HISTORY: The Padres opened as -105 home faves. The total opened 6.5.
INJURY REPORT: Dodgers - Matt Kemp OF (15-day DL, Shoulder ), Carl Crawford OF (Questionable, personal), Yasiel Puig OF (Probable Tuesday, Back). Padres - Chase Headley 3B (Questionable, Calf), Carlos Quentin OF (Out indefinitely, Knee), Cameron Maybin OF (Mid May, bicep)
WHAT THE SHARPS SAY: "I mentioned last week that I was wondering if Hyun-Jin Ryu would have a regression after a strong showing last year, but it appears not as he pitched well in Australia last weekend, allowing just two hits in five innings versus the D-Backs. Ryu is battling an injury to his big right toe which is a concern, plus you never know if the Dodgers might have a hangover after their two wins and long trip back from Australia." Covers Expert Steve Merril.
WHAT THE BOOKS SAY: "The Dodgers return to North America after playing a two-game series against the D-backs in Australia, winning both games. High expectations for the Dodgers this year as we have them favored to win the World Series at +550." Michael Stewart, CarbonSports.ag.
WHY BET THE DODGERS: Ryu injured his right big toe running the bases in the Dodgers’ second victory over Arizona, but is expected to get the call barring any setbacks leading up to the game. The 27-year-old was sharp in his season debut in Australia, limiting Arizona to two hits and a walk while fanning five over five scoreless frames March 22. Ryu, who went 1-0 with a 1.42 ERA against San Diego as a rookie last season, has allowed three or fewer runs in 11 of his last 12 regular-season starts.
WHY BET THE PADRES: Cashner gets his first career Opening Day nod one year after capitalizing on good health in his first full season in the rotation. The hard-throwing Texas native made 26 starts and got stronger as the season progressed, capping it off with a 2.25 ERA in August and a 0.76 ERA in September, which included a near-no-hitter against Pittsburgh. Cashner is 0-2 with a 1.32 ERA in 14 career appearances against the Dodgers.
TRENDS:
* Under is 5-0 in the last five meetings in San Diego.
* Dodgers are 7-1 in the last eight meetings.
* Dodgers are 4-1 in the last five meetings in San Diego.
Dodgers, Padres clash on Sunday
By Sportsbook.ag
Los Angeles Dodgers (2-0) at San Diego Padres (0-0)
Sportsbook.ag Line: Dodgers -110 Padres +100 Total 6.5
The Padres open their 2014 season on Sunday night when they host the front-runner to win the World Series, the Dodgers.
Los Angeles has made it safely back to the United States after a very successful trip “down under” where it won the first two games of the 2014 MLB regular season. They Dodgers surpassed the Yankees this season as the team with the highest payroll in baseball and look to continue their success from last season when they won the NL West by 11 games.
San Diego added plenty of pitching depth in the offseason, signing right-handed starters Ian Kennedy and Josh Johnson as well as relievers RHP Joaquin Benoit and LHP Alex Torres. The Padres hope these moves can push them over .500 and compete in the West in 2014.
LHP Clayton Kershaw was the expected starter for this game but a concern with a stiff back had him scratched, and LHP Hyun-Jin Ryu will make his second start of the season after pitching five scoreless innings in a win over the Diamondbacks in Australia. The Padres will counter with RHP Andrew Cashner (10-9, 3.09 ERA in 2013) on the mound.
Los Angeles had the edge in this series last season, going 11-8 against San Diego, including a 6-4 record at Petco Park. The Padres had no issues holding their own at home last year, producing a 45-36 record there (.556) while the Dodgers had an identical 45-36 record when playing in road games.
Los Angeles was looking forward to having its ace pitch in two of its first three games, but will be happy to get a second start from Ryu. In his five scoreless innings on the mound against the Diamondbacks, he allowed just two hits while striking out five and walking only one batter. He pitched only once against San Diego in his rookie campaign last season, earning a win while giving up eight hits and a run over 6.1 innings while striking out six.
None of the current Padres have faced Ryu more than three times and they will be looking for youngster 1B Yonder Alonso to take a step forward after an impressive spring where he was 20-for-47 (.426 BA), four doubles, 2 HR and 4 RBI.
The Dodgers relievers combined to go 30-24 with a 3.49 ERA last season while converting 46-of-65 save opportunities (71%). Their offseason addition of RHP Chris Perez should also help at the end of games and add depth to an already strong relief group. Closer Kenley Jansen converted 28-of-32 save chances (88%) last season and sported a 1.88 ERA while striking out 13.0 batters per nine innings. He pitched in both games against Arizona, tossing 1.1 innings while earning a save in his first outing, but also giving up a homer in his second start.
The Padres have one of the most pitcher-friendly parks in all of baseball and Andrew Cashner took advantage of this in his first full season as a starting pitcher. His K/9 dropped dramatically from 2012 when he was a relief pitcher (10.1 K/9) to 2013 when he took over as a starter (6.6 K/9). Cashner pitched in six games (3 starts) against the Dodgers last season, going 0-1 with a 1.35 ERA (1.16 WHIP) and striking out 20 in 26.2 IP. He threw 7+ innings in each of his three starts against them and allowed only three total runs in that time.
None of the current Los Angeles batters have homered against Cashner, but 1B Adrian Gonzalez (5-for-13, 1 RBI), 3B Juan Uribe (4-for-8, 2 doubles), OF Carl Crawford (3-for-9) and OF Andre Ethier (3-for-8, 2 BB) have all had success when facing him. Meanwhile, youngster OF Yasiel Puig has not done well in this matchup, going 1-for-9 with 3 strikeouts.
The Padres had a solid bullpen in 2013, going 25-29 with a 3.39 ERA (1.26 WHIP) and should only improve with the additions of Joaquin Benoit and Alex Torres. Closer Huston Street (2.70 ERA, 33 saves in 2013) has 234 career saves (85.1% save percentage), but has struggled over 32 games against Los Angeles with a 4.55 ERA and 1.45 WHIP.