Lineup: 

Crawford LF
Ellis 2B
Ethier RF
Gonzalez 1B
Ellis C
Schumaker CF
Punto 3B
Sellers SS
Kershaw P

After the lopsided loss last night at Dodger Stadium, the Dodger have now dropped three games in a row and are on the verge of being swept by San Diego at home. If they fall to the Padres tonight, they will also dip below .500 on the season. There’s all sorts of problems going on with the Dodgers right now. The starting rotation has been hit with injury, and Chris Capuano will undergo an MRI on his strained calf today. Even though the Dodgers will not need a fifth starter for around eight days, they will need to have a plan in place if Cappy is headed to the disabled list. Possible replacements could be Ted Lilly, who just pitched a rehab start for Albuquerque on Tuesday or Stephen Fife who is currently in Albuquerque’s starting rotation.

Tyson Ross will make his first start against the Dodgers. Photo: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

They bullpen is overused, and this not only has to do with Cappy’s early exit yesterday. The first issue is that the Dodgers do not have a long-man to eat innings in situations where a starter is unable to go deep into the game since Capuano has been promoted to the starting rotation once Greinke was injured. Last season Jamey Wright did an admirable job as the long-man or “mop-up man” during some of these situations which are bound to occur throughout the season. Another issue that has been problematic for some time now is Don Mattingly‘s mismanagement of the bullpen. Often times he uses relievers for just one inning thus burning through many arms per game. The Dodgers are going to have to add some middle relief at some point, preferably a reliever who can pitch more than just one inning.

The horrible offense is really the biggest culprit during this three-game losing streak. The Dodgers are just inept in hitting with runners in scoring position, and they have stranded tons of runners so far this season. The lack of speed in the lineup besides Carl Crawford has really hurt their chances of scoring precious runs as well. With Matt Kemp not faring well at the plate, we lose not only our crucial third hitter in the lineup but his speed on the base path as well. Mattingly might need to shake up the lineup and slot Kemp lower for the time being, and we will touch on that issue in a future post.

Clayton Kershaw picked up the loss last time out against the D-backs after the offense failed to give him any run support. His curveball was off, but he still kept the Dodgers in the

Matt Kemp looks to breakout after an early season slump. Photo: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

game. He allowed 3 earned runs on 6 hits with 9 strikeouts and 3 walks over 7 1/3 innings at Chase Field. Kersh has pitched successfully versus San Diego in the past, and he has a 8-3 record with a 2.28 ERA against the Friars in his career. He’ll have to watch for Nick Hundley and Will Venable who are both hitting over .300 against the southpaw. Chris Denorfia has gone deep against him in the past, and Denorfia gave the Dodgers a bad time last night while picking up three hits.

Tyson Ross, a right-hander, will go to the mound for the Padres. He’s looking for his first win on the season, and last time out against Colorado he allowed 3 earned runs on 5 hits with 8 strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings in the no-decision. The Dodgers have never faced Ross. He was acquired by the Padres in a four-player trade with the Athletics during the offseason.

-Clayton Kershaw needs just one more strikeout to amass 1,000 career whiffs. He has 25 strikeouts so far this season in 23 1/3 innings pitched.

-Chase Headley is expected to return to the Padres lineup on Wednesday. He suffered a fractured thumb on March 17th during Spring Training.

-Matt Kemp continues to struggle, and he has now struck out 17 times. He has just 10 hits in 54 at-bats.

The 7:10 p.m. game will air on KCAL. After this series concludes the Dodgers will leave for a East Coast road trip which will have them play in Baltimore and New York. If they lose tonight, the plane ride will be very tense.

Padres 9 15 0

WP- Marquis (1-1)

LP- Capuano (0-1)

This was one of those game where things go downhill very quickly. The seats weren’t even warm yet, and the Padres had already plated five runs off Chris Capuano. Capuano, who was selected to replace the injured Zack Greinke in the rotation, had a very rough start to say the least. Not only was he hammered in the first inning, but he had to leave the game after the second inning with an injury to his calf. The extent of the injury is still unknown, but if he has to go the disabled list the Dodgers would have to start either Ted Lilly or Stephen Fife in Greinke’s spot next.

It didn’t help that it was a cold, windy night at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers could only muster three base hits and one run off righty Jason Marquis. The highlight of the game for the Dodgers was a stellar Justin Sellers play at short in the sixth inning. The Padres clobbered the Dodgers with 15 hits.

Jason Marquis pitches splendidly at Dodger Stadium over his career. Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The disaster of a first inning includes nine San Diego runners and four runs. Chris Capuano, who has only pitched 2 2/3 innings in relief this season, proceeds to allow a lead-off single to Chris Denorfia. Everth Cabrera‘s sacrifice bunt moves Denorfia into scoring position. Yonder Alonso singles allowing the first run of four to score. Jesus Guzman singles. Jedd Gyorko flies out, but a groundball single to first by Kyle Blanks loads the bases up for Diego. Capuano walks Nick Hundley to walk in a run. Rick Honeycutt goes out to talk to Cappy, but promptly thereafter Alexi Amarista singles in two more runs. An obligatory wild pitch then occurs, and the fateful inning finally comes to an end on a ground out from Jason Marquis but not before it’s 4-0 Padres.

The Dodgers go down in order in the home half of the first on three consecutive fly outs from Carl Crawford, Mark Ellis, and Matt Kemp.

Capuano settles down a bit in the second inning, and he induces three groundouts from Denorfia, Cabrera, and Alonso for a scoreless inning.

The Dodgers don’t do anything in the second as they go down 1-2-3.

April 16, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Diego Padres left fielder Kyle Blanks (88) slides into home to score a run in the first inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

San Diego tacks on another run in the third. Capuano walks Guzman, and apparently Capuano strained his left calf while running over to the first base bag. We will keep you updated on his injury as we find out more. The Dodgers are forced to bring in Matt Guerrier to replace Cappy. A Kyle Blanks double and a Hundley sacrifice fly combine for a fifth San Diegan run.

Chris Capuano only made it through 2 innings, allowing 5 runs on 5 hits, no strikeouts, 2 walks on 43 pitches.

The Dodgers get on the board in the bottom of the third, but they once again strand runners and waste a perfect rally opportunity. Juan Uribe singles to lead-off. Justin Sellers is hit by a pitch from Marquis, and he is awarded first base. It was unintentional, and there is no exchange of words. Matt Guerrier, who is now batting, strikes out attempting to bunt. Carl Crawford walks to load the bases up for the Dodgers. Uribe is able to score on a sacrifice fly by Mark Ellis, but Matt Kemp strikes out swinging to end the inning and strand all three runners. 5-1 San Diego.

Denorfia singles in the fourth, and Cabrera hits into a force out. With Alonso at the plate, Cabrera steals second. They end up walking Alonso intentionally, and Guzman flies out to end the frame.

In the fourth, A.J. Ellis hits a two-out single up the middle. That is all.

Josh Wall comes in to pitch the fifth inning, and Luis Cruz will take over at third. Wall strikes out Gyorko and Blanks. Nick Hundley doubles inside third with two-out. Amarista singles home Hundley, and Matt Kemp’s off line throw to home allows Amarista to take second on the play. 6-1 San Diego. Marquis flies out to end the inning.

The Dodgers go down in order again against Marquis in the bottom of the fifth.

Denorfia leads-off with a double to start the sixth. That’s Chris’s third hit on the night. Cabrera strikes out. Denorfia steals third with Alfonso in the box. Alonso proceeds to double to right field, and the Padres plate their seventh run. Justin Sellers makes a great play with a diving stop to rob Guzman of a base hit. Gyorko doubles to left field. Alonso scores, and it’s officially a blow out. 8-1 Padres.

Jason Marquis strikes out Matt Kemp for the second time. Adrian Gonzalez strikes out, and the Dodgers go down quietly in the sixth.

Paco Rodriguez is in for the seventh inning. Matt Kemp is replaced by Skip Schumaker in center field. There’s only a Nick Hundley single which is San Diego’s thirteenth hit of the game. The Dodgers have just two hits.

Justin Sellers makes a diving stop in the sixth inning. Photo: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers are just rolling over now, and they go down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the seventh.

Kenley Jansen becomes the fifth Dodger pitcher of the night. Cabrera strikes out swinging. Alonso singles, and that’s his third hit of the game. Guzman flies out. Gyorko strikes out.

Carl Crawford doubles down the right field corner with two outs in the eighth for the third hit of the night for the Dodgers. That’s going to be all for Jason Marquis who pitched very well. Flame thrower Andrew Cashner comes in. He gets Mark Ellis to fly out to end the inning.

Jason Marquis pitched 7 2/3 innings, allowing 1 run on 3 hits, with 5 strikeouts and 1 walk on 107 pitches.

Brandon League will pitch the ninth for the Dodgers. Ramon Hernandez is at first base and Jerry Hairston Jr. is in left field now. League promptly hits Kyle Blanks with a pitch. An obligatory wild pitch moves Blanks over to second, and a Hundley fly out moves him to third. Amarista singles, and the Padres now have nine runs on 15 hits.

Hairston singles to center as Will Venable‘s diving attempt traps the ball. Ramon Hernandez, first baseman, flies out. Andre Ethier draws a walk. A.J. Ellis strikes out. Skip Schumaker walks to load the bases up. Cashner embarrassingly walks Nick Punto, and all of a sudden the Dodgers have a second run. Luis Cruz strikes out swinging to end our misery.

Tomorrow the Dodgers will try to save face and stave off a sweep by sending Clayton Kershaw to the mound in a 7:10 p.m.  game.