MLB Odds: Padres hearing footsteps in NL West

Jonathan Broxton has gone from lights out to batting practice pitcher.

The San Diego Padres are hearing footsteps as they continue their four-game series Tuesday night at the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Unfortunately for Dodgers’ fans, those footsteps are coming 400 miles north from San Francisco. The Giants are 21-6 their last 27 games and 1.5 games out of the division. This is pending the late Monday night opener between L.A. and San Diego.

San Diego (61-42) acquired a couple of key pieces at the trading deadline in infielder Miguel Tejada and outfielder Ryan Ludwick. Tejada is 1-for-10 at the plate since joining the club, while Ludwick made a pinch-hitting debut on Sunday. San Diego beat Florida ace Josh Johnson 5-4 to avoid a three-game home sweep.

Los Angeles (54-51) made its own deadline moves in hopes of saving a sinking ship. The Dodgers have lost five straight and there’s negative karma around the team with the ‘War of the Roses’ divorce between the McCourt owners.

Slugger Manny Ramirez (calf) is still on the DL and the Dodgers’ 2.12 runs scored per game since the break is by far an MLB low. To make matters worse, closer Jonathan Broxton is imploding in the second half (0-3, 10.80 ERA).

GM Ned Colletti did his best at the deadline acquiring starter Ted Lilly, reliever Octavio Dotel, infielder Ryan Theriot and outfielder Scott Podsednik. Those moves haven’t created a spark yet.

Lilly (3-8, 3.69 ERA) is scheduled to make his Dodgers’ debut Tuesday night. He’s had some of the worst run support in baseball with the Cubs, although that may not improve much the way L.A. is hitting.

The 34-year-old lefty has seen his strikeout rate (6.85) dip to its lowest level since 2005. It’s still not bad though and his OPS allowed is just .697. Lilly is 0-2 with a 9.20 ERA lifetime at Dodger Stadium (four appearances). He surrendered seven runs (five earned) in just 3 2/3 innings in L.A. on July 9.

MLB Betting Odds

Lilly is 5-2 with a 3.18 ERA lifetime against the Padres. He hasn’t faced them this season.

Mat Latos (11-4, 2.45 ERA) will take the mound for San Diego. He leads its starters in wins and ERA. He did a short DL stint in July, but it seemed mostly to give the youngster some extra rest.

The 22-year-old righty has been an automatic ‘W’ lately. The Padres have won his last eight starts, five of them on the road. They’re 9-2 in his road starts this year, with Latos sporting a 2.63 ERA.

His last start came at home against the Dodgers on Thursday. He allowed two runs (one earned) and two hits over five innings in a 3-2 win. He got the no-decision with the NL’s top-ranked bullpen coming through.

San Diego went 2-1 in last week’s home series with L.A. The teams split the only two meetings in L.A. this year, but San Diego is 5-12 in its last 17 games there. The ‘under’ is 9-2 in the last 11 meetings overall.

San Diego could get second baseman David Eckstein (calf) back from the DL on Thursday, but it’s not likely. Ramirez is not expected back until mid-August, and he’s certainly not the type to rush it with his history.

First pitch on Tuesday is 7:10 p.m. (PT). Weather should be beautiful and in the 60s.