In L.A., no prayer for Padres
Less than an inning into their season, the San Diego Padres managed a major accomplishment when they pushed home a run against Clayton Kershaw.
Never mind the run was unearned, a gift from a two-base throwing error by Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager. It still represented progress for the Padres compared to last season — as well as their most competitive moment in a 14-3 rout Monday by the defending four-time National League West champions.
Much the way college football powerhouses schedule creampuffs for homecoming, the Dodgers have started the season against the lowly Padres in each of the last three years. The result? Three wins by a combined 35-6, including a 15-0 blowout last season that set the tone for a series sweep in which L.A. blanked San Diego all three times.
The powerhouse Dodgers, with the majors’ largest payroll at $188 million for their 25man roster and players on the disabled list, are widely regarded as the biggest obstacle to the Chicago Cubs’ aspirations of returning to the World Series after claiming the championship last year.
The rebuilding Padres, who are paying $29.6 million for their 25-man active roster — or $3.4 million less than Kershaw is making — haven’t had a winning season since 2010 and might secure a second consecutive last-place finish by the All-Star break. They’re the second-youngest club in the majors and have 18 players who were not on last season’s opening-day roster, including three picked in the Rule 5 draft.
On top of that, San Diego had the misfortune of continuing to draw Kershaw in the opener; he entered with a sparkling 4-0 record and 0.93 ERA in six opening-day starts.
And, sure enough, the threetime Cy Young Award winner was effective, yielding two hits, one earned run and no walks while striking out eight in seven innings.