Martin Perez walked through the clubhouse doors Wednesday afternoon with a Pirates duffle bag, was pointed to his locker and began his assimilation into a new organization that will likely ask him to make his first start in the weekend series against the Rockies.
The other two newcomers — relievers Tanner Scott and Bryan Hoening — had already arrived, necessitating a trio of roster moves ahead of Wednesday’s 5:40 p.m. start against the Dodgers:
- Right-hander Stephen Kolek was placed on the 15-day injured list with forearm tendonitis;
- Right-handers Logan Gillaspie was optioned to Triple-A El Paso;
- Left-hander Austin Davis was designated for assignment.
A Rule 5 pick who must remain on the active roster or be returned to the Mariners, Kolek walked two in a scoreless inning on Tuesday and has a 5.21 ERA in 46 ⅔ innings in this first year in the majors.
Gillaspie has a 3.24 ERA over 8⅓ innings this year in the majors, while Davis had a 9.00 ERA over seven innings.
After Tuesday’s comeback win, the team’s 25th of the season, the Padres lead the season Series against the Dodgers, 6-3, with one more win securing the first season series win since 2010.
To do it, the Padres will ask Jake Cronenworth to take a seat against Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw as Donovan Solano will get the start at first base and in the five-hole following Tuesday’s pinch-hit heroics.
Happy Wednesday 🤗 pic.twitter.com/qIuA3SdANN
— San Diego Padres (@Padres) July 31, 2024
Among current and active Padres, Solano’s .971 OPS over 32 plate appearances against Kershaw is tops on the team (see pitching matchup below).
Luis Arraez will serve as the DH, Luis Campusano will catch Dylan Cease as he did in last week’s no-hitter and the switch-hitting Bryce Johnson will play right field.
Here is how the Dodgers will line up in search of a series split:
Tonight’s #Dodgers lineup at Padres: pic.twitter.com/0sfSt9A79m
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) July 31, 2024
Wednesday’s pitching matchup
Dodgers LHP Clayton Kershaw (0-0, 4.50 ERA)
The three-time NL Cy Young-winner threw four innings in his first start last week after starting the season on the injured list following offseason shoulder surgery. Kershaw has a 2.12 ERA over 296⅔ innings against the Padres, but he allowed four runs in 4⅔ innings in his only start against them in 2023.
Here is Kershaw’s extensive history with current Padres:
Padres RHP Dylan Cease (10-8, 3.50 ERA)
He’s coming off a no-hitter in which he struck out nine and walked three. Cease has not allowed a run in his last three starts (22 IP). This is his first start against the Dodgers this season and his first since striking out 10 over 5⅓ innings of two-run ball in a no-decision last year while with the White Sox.
Here is how Cease has fared against current Dodgers:
Originally Published: