Desperate for a win against the Dodgers, the Padres send Joe Musgrove to the mound

The season is not quite a quarter of a year old, but the San Diego Padres they learn a hard truth

Expectations do not automatically lead to success.

THE Padres During the four meetings on Friday, he lost for the third time Dodgers falling below .500 this season. Yes, it’s still early, but the Padres team that set up the planting Dodgers as the National League West champion, with 2023 among its goals, it’s currently closer to the fourth-place San Francisco Giants than it is to first — or even second — in the division.

And the Padres have lost three in a row and five of their last six games, while the Dodgers they have won three in a row, five of the last six and 11 of 13. Before returning home on Friday to open a six-game homestand, Dodgers He went 4-2 in San Diego and Milwaukee. Prior to this Dodgers swept a three-game streak from the reigning NL champion Philadelphia Phillies, making it 6-0 at home.

“It’s always a good sign to play winning baseball against the tougher teams on your schedule.” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. “It’s early. But we really like what we’re seeing.

Naturally, Padres Manager Bob Melvin didn’t like what he saw. But on Friday night, he saw some improvement

“We had good energy the whole game,” Melvin said. “I thought we handled it well. We just couldn’t follow through.”

Of course the Padres still ranks last in the majors in hitting with runners in scoring position and was 1-for-7 Friday night

On paper, things aren’t looking up for him Padres on Saturday at a nationally televised meeting Dodgers

THE Padres right-hander Joe Musgrove (1-0, 6.75 ERA) sends his ace. THE Dodgers will counter against lefty Julio Urias (4-3, 3.77). It’s a rematch of last Sunday’s game in San Diego, which ended in one PadresThe most brutal defeats of the season

Musgrove held the Dodgers for one unearned run on two hits and three walks in five innings. THE Padres It was 2-1 in the ninth and Josh Hader was one out from his 12th save in as many tries when Mookie Betts — who made it 2-2 on Friday night with a homer — tied the game for good measure. THE Dodgers then scored three runs in the 10th for a 5-2 win and another streak against Padrdes

Last Sunday, Urias held the Padres for two runs on eight hits and one walk with three strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings. Urias is 6-1 with a 2.27 ERA in his career Padres In 16 games (11 starts) with 62 strikeouts and 23 walks in 67 1/3 innings. THE Padres opponents have a .196 batting average, .279 on-base percentage and .600 OPS against the 26-year-old Urias

Meanwhile, throw out Musgrove’s ERA. With the start of the season delayed by a broken big toe suffered in spring training, Musgrove drew the short straw and on April 29 started the first major league game ever played in Mexico City.

In 11 home games a Padres In a 16-11 win, Musgrove gave up seven runs on six hits (including three homers) in 3 1/3 innings.

— Field Level Media