How Dodgers starting pitcher Clayton Kershaw turned back the clock with a vintage performance against the Padres.

Things sure have changed since the last time the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers clashed, back in June. The Dodgers were running away in the NL West then with a nine-game lead. The Padres were in third place.

Luis Arraez’s eighth-inning sacrifice fly with the bases loaded brought the Padres to within a run, but Manny Machado popped out on the first pitch by Blake Treinen to end that inning and Ryan O’Hearn flied out to end the game with a the tying run on first base to snap the Padres’ five-game winning streak and the Dodgers’ four-game skid.

It’s Friday, August 15 and the Padres (69-52) are in Los Angeles to take on the Dodgers (68-53). Clayton Kershaw will take the mound for Los Angeles, while San Diego will announce its starter closer to first pitch as they put Michael King on the IL.

San Diego is 69-53 overall and 31-33 on the road. The Padres have the fifth-ranked team batting average in the NL at .251. The teams meet Saturday for the ninth time this season. The Dodgers lead the season series 6-2.

Padres reliever Jeremiah Estrada has flourished by discovering the virtues of the elevated fastball, pairing elite velocity with elite characteristics that make it death on those who dare to swing at an elevated heater. But Hernández was ready for it, taking an elevated fastball for a strike before unleashing on the second one he saw.

Clayton Kershaw provides six strong innings and the bullpen maintains the lead as the Dodgers open their most critical series of the season so far with a win.

The San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers play each other six times in 10 days starting with Friday night, and Fernando Tatis Jr. is pumped up for it.

The San Diego Padres dropped their opening game of a three-game set against the Los Angeles Dodgers, 3-2, bringing them level with their rivals in the NL West.

San Diego reshuffles its rotation plans after Michael King’s unexpected injured list move, preparing for a key series against Los Angeles