Dodgers Vs. Padres Preview: Maholm Starts In Place Of Beckett

The Los Angeles Dodgers’ starting rotation has been one of the team’s biggest strengths this season, but with Josh Beckett being placed on the DL, it created a bit of uncertainty. After a 6-3 loss to the San Diego Padres Friday night, the Dodgers look to rebound with Paul Maholm on the mound.

Maholm makes a spot start in place of the injured Beckett and will try to put the team back in the win column. The left-hander makes his first start since May 14 and will need to be better than he was in his first seven starts this season.

Maholm went 1-4 with a 5.50 ERA in those starts and is 1-6 with a 4.27 ERA in eight career starts against the Padres.

For the Padres, it will be Ian Kennedy on the hill, who is 7-9 with 3.71 ERA this season. Kennedy has struggled recently against Los Angeles, going 0-3 with a 6.51 ERA in his last five starts. Saturday’s start is Kennedy’s first since June of 2013 when he took the mound for the Arizona Diamondbacks and the brawl ensued.

The Dodgers have cooled off a bit since July began. The team has gone just 4-6 this month and has struggled to take a big division lead over the San Francisco Giants, who have also struggled.

Andre Ethier gets the start in center field and A.J. Ellis is back behind the plate.

Dodgers Lineup:

2B: Gordon

RF: Puig

1B: Gonzalez

LF: Kemp

CF: Ethier

3B: Uribe

C: Ellis

SS: Rojas

P: Maholm

Padres Lineup

RF: Denorfia

3B: Headley

LF: Quentin

1B: Grandal

C: Rivera

CF: Maybin

SS: Amarista

2B: Falu

P: Kennedy
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