Preview: Mike Bolsinger Makes Spot Start, Corey Seager Fills In At 3rd

Looking to rebound from one of the more disappointing losses of the season, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Diego Padres square off Friday night in the second of their four-game series at Petco Park.

The Dodgers enter Friday’s contest with a 75-58 record and remain in first place over the San Francisco Giants by 6.5 games. Meanwhile, the Padres are tied for fourth place in the National League West with a 65-69 record.

Taking the mound for Los Angeles is Mike Bolsinger (5-3, 2.83 ERA), who is making his first start with the club since July 29. While optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma City, he primarily worked as a long reliever and occasionally made a spot start (2.96 ERA in 27.1 innings).

Earlier this season, Bolsinger nearly pitched a perfect game against the Padres, allowing just one hit in eight shutout innings at Dodger Stadium. He made one other start against San Diego, at Petco Park, yielding two earned runs and six hits over 4.2 innings.

Opposing Bolsinger is James Shields (10-6, 3.78 ERA), who isn’t quite living up to expectations during his first year in San Diego. In his last start against the Philadelphia Phillies, he went seven strong innings, allowing just one earned run and striking out eight for his tenth win of the season.

Shields has previously faced the Dodgers three times in 2015; totaling 20 innings, he’s allowed 16 hits and six earned runs (2.70 ERA) while walking six batters and recording 21 strikeouts. His prior start against them on June 14 was the most impressive, as he allowed just one earned run in seven innings at Chavez Ravine.

Thursday was an exciting day for the entire Dodgers organization and fan base as highly-touted prospect Corey Seager made his long-awaited Major League debut. He started at shortstop and collected two hits, including a go-ahead, two-run base hit in the sixth inning.

After giving Jimmy Rollins a night off Friday, Seager starts at third base for Justin Turner, and bats fifth.

Former Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp is enjoying the second half of the season, much like last year, as he’s batting .302 with nine home runs and 40 RBIs in 42 games since the All-Star Game. On Thursday he drove in a pair of runs with an RBI-single in the second inning.

Wil Myers returns to the Padres lineup for the first time since June 13, batting sixth and playing first base.

Dodgers Lineup:

SS: Jimmy Rollins

LF: Carl Crawford

1B: Adrian Gonzalez

2B: Chase Utley

3B: Corey Seager

C: Yasmani Grandal

RF: Scott Schebler

CF: Joc Pederson

P: Mike Bolsinger

Padres Lineup:

3B: Yangervis Solarte

SS: Jedd Gyorko

RF: Matt Kemp

LF: Justin Upton

C: Derek Norris

1B: Wil Myers

2B: Cory Spangenberg

P: James Shields

CF: Travis Jankowski