MLB LOOK AHEAD

Padres, D-backs LHPs face right-handed-heavy orders

Field Level Media

April 03, 2019 at 8:05 am.

Sep 30, 2018; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi (37) pitches during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park. Photo Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Sep 30, 2018; San Diego, CA, USA; San Diego Padres starting pitcher Joey Lucchesi (37) pitches during the first inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks at Petco Park. Photo Credit: Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

Padres manager Andy Green admitted being concerned Monday as the Padres started a three-game series against the Arizona Diamondbacks in San Diego.

“Arizona has a team more contoured to success against left-handed pitchers than San Francisco,” he said earlier in the week. “That’s not a knock on the Giants, it’s just how different teams are designed.”

Green should know. The Padres have three new right-handed bats in their lineup this season in free-agent third baseman Manny Machado, free-agent second baseman Ian Kinsler and 20-year-old rookie shortstop Fernando Tatis Jr.

So both the Diamondbacks and Padres should be geared up Wednesday afternoon as left-handers Joey Lucchesi (1-0) of the Padres faces Arizona left-hander Robbie Ray (0-0) with the Diamondbacks going for a series sweep.

But it could be tougher for the Padres. Lucchesi is the third straight left-handed starter that Green has deployed against Arizona. And Diamondbacks hitters have raked against the first two — plus left-handed reliever Robbie Erlin.

On Monday night, Arizona scored five runs on eight hits and three walks with a home run against Matt Strahm. Erlin followed and the Diamondbacks scored four runs (three earned) on four hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Then Tuesday night, the Diamondbacks scored four runs on nine hits (including two homers) and two walks against Eric Lauer – who had given up four hits over six shutout innings against the Giants on Opening Day.

The only Padres’ left-hander who had any success the past two nights was Aaron Loup, who struck out the side in the ninth inning Tuesday.

Enter Lucchesi, who was 0-5 against Arizona as a rookie in 2018 with a 6.07 ERA (20 runs in 29 2/3 innings). In his first start this season, Lucchesi gave up three hits in 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the Giants.

“We’ve had really good at-bats the first two games of this series,” Arizona manager Torey Lovullo said Tuesday night after the Diamondbacks hit five home runs — including two by starting pitcher Zack Greinke — in an 8-5 victory.

Arizona has scored 18 runs in two wins against a Padres team that gave up five runs over the season’s first four games against the Giants.

As for the Padres’ improved attack against left-handed pitchers? The Padres are also right-handed heavy with the only left-handed bats on the 25-man roster belonging to outfielder Franchy Cordero, first baseman Eric Hosmer and utility infielder Greg Garcia. Rookie catcher Francisco Mejia is a switch-hitter.

One of the reasons the Padres added more right-handed firepower was their lack of success against left-handed pitchers like the Diamondbacks’ Ray.

Ray has gone 5-0 with a 3.20 ERA in his last nine starts against the Padres. During his career, the 6-foot-2, 190-pound 27-year-old is 5-4 against the Padres with a 4.02 ERA in 13 career starts. He has 100 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings against the Padres with a 1.228 WHIP, a .202 opponents’ batting average and a .699 opponents’ OPS.

At Petco Park, Ray is 2-1 with a 3.51 ERA, a 1.140 WHIP, a .168 opponents’ batting average and a .620 opponents’ OPS with 41 strikeouts in 33 1/3 innings.

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