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Dodgers’ 2019 NL West Outlook: San Diego Padres

By Jack Trent Dorfman

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 05: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts to his two run homerun behind Anibal Sanchez #19 of the Atlanta Braves to take a 2-0 lead during the first inning in Game Two of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 5, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 05: Manny Machado #8 of the Los Angeles Dodgers reacts to his two run homerun behind Anibal Sanchez #19 of the Atlanta Braves to take a 2-0 lead during the first inning in Game Two of the National League Division Series at Dodger Stadium on October 5, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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SAN DIEGO, CA – AUGUST 30: Eric Lauer #46 of the San Diego Padres pitches in the first inning against the Colorado Rockies at PETCO Park on August 30, 2018 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

Dodger Killers

While he may not be a Dodger killer in the traditional sense, Manny Machado will definitely be a player that receives boos from Dodger fans whenever he and the Padres make the short trip up the coast to Chavez Ravine. But beyond the former-Dodger, there are a few true standout Dodger Killers on the current San Diego roster.

Eric Lauer

One of the biggest standouts from the starting rotation in general, Lauer more than held his own against the Dodgers. The 6’3 right-hander pitched to a .192 batting average against the Dodgers last season, striking out 20 and walking just 5 over the course of 78 at-bats, allowing just five extra-base hits and two runs over that span.

Overall, the 23-year old rookie went 6-7 with a 4.34 ERA in his first big league season, tossing 112.1 innings for San Diego. If he can build on his highly-rated fastball-slider combo, Lauer could break out in 2019.

Wil Myers 

Arguably the Padres’ face of the franchise even with the addition of Hosmer (though Machado by far supersedes him), Myers has been an All-Star-caliber hitter in the past, and even though injuries kept him down in 2018, he saw just 83 games, he still managed to rake against the Dodgers.

In his 41 at-bats against LA, Myers hit .342 with 2 homers, 6 doubles, and 6 RBIs. The right-handed slugger has struggled to stay on the field in the past, as he’s played in over 90 games just twice in his five-year MLB career, but when he plays he is one of the best in the NL.

Hunter Renfroe

Another big right-handed power hitter, Renfroe handled the Dodgers’ heavily-left handed starting rotation quite well in 2018. Renfroe hit .302 with 3 homers, 3 doubles, and 5 RBIs in his 43 ABs against the Dodgers, though unlike Myers Renfroe was vulnerable to the strikeout. Renfroe was set down on strikes 13 times, three times by Hyun-Jin Ryu and twice each by Kenta Maeda and Clayton Kershaw.

Renfroe is battling for a spot in the very crowded Padres outfield in 2019, but his power, manifested in his ability to hit 26 homers in back-to-back seasons without reaching 500 PAs, should earn him a spot.

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