The Padres have effectively played shorthanded the last few days, with Ramón Laureano sliding over from left to center field and Gavin Sheets backfilling the left-field vacancy. Merrill's unavailability has coincided with shortstop Xander Bogaerts and second baseman Jake Cronenworth both missing a game apiece because of their own ills.

The Dodgers and Padres are tied atop the National League West with 33 games remaining on the regular season schedule. San Diego pulled even with a 2-1 win on Friday night at Petco Park. Blake Snell took the tough-luck loss despite allowing only two runs and pitching into the seventh inning for the first time

When they swept the San Diego Padres last weekend, the Los Angeles Dodgers rendered their vaunted bullpen mostly useless. San Diego flipped the script

Dodgers fell into tie for first in NL West after 2-1 loss to Padres as Dave Roberts admits he is “out of answers."

Yu Darvish combined with three relievers on a three-hitter, and the San Diego Padres pulled even with the Los Angeles Dodgers atop the NL West once again with a 2-1 victory.

It's a shame the Dodgers and Padres won't end the regular season against one another because the NL West title could still be in play 31 games from now.

The Dodgers were held to one hit before the ninth inning, when Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman gave them one final gasp against All-Star closer Robert Suarez. The closer blew a 101.6 mph sinker past Hernández to close out a night in which they hardly ever threatened.

Blake Snell is slated to take the mound for Los Angeles against Yu Darvish for San Diego.

Just like last weekend, the Dodgers and the Padres square off for first place in the NL West. This time, in San Diego.

Freddie Freeman hit a two-run home on the sixth pitch of the game, Clayton Kershaw won his fourth straight start, and the Los Angeles Dodgers beat the Colorado Rockies 9-5.

Rookie infielder Alex Freeland provided all of the Dodgers' offense with his first career home run in a 2-1 loss to the Padres Friday.