Dodgers, Padres set for Saturday doubleheader

SAN DIEGO -- It really does rain in Southern California and Saturday's doubleheader with the Dodgers and Padres is proof positive.

The teams will play two after they were rained out on May 7.

"We're getting ready to play about four games in 48 hours," Padres manager Andy Green said before Friday's series-opener.

The second and third games of this four-game set will likely see the Dodgers' Chris Taylor playing somewhere. The onetime utility player trying to crack the Mariners' roster has found a home with Los Angeles. With Corey Seager's elbow still unsteady, Taylor started at shortstop on Friday and it is likely he'll settle in there sometime during the twin bill.

Of course, he has also seen innings at second, third, left and center.

"He's a tough player and he wants to play every day," Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said as the Dodgers look for their second straight win after losing five straight. "It doesn't matter where I put in in the lineup or where I play him. He performs and never makes excuses."

Taylor's game has found another gear. He ditched his approach of spraying line dries around the field, instead he's utilizing a launch angle with every cut.

In his first three seasons, Taylor hit one home run. This year he has 18.

"With what he has done with his swing, change-wise, he has become a really good offensive player," Roberts said. "Defensively, I trust him anywhere on the diamond."

Roberts is putting his faith in Brock Stewart (0-0, 3.38) in Saturday's opener. Stewart has three scoreless innings at the expense of the Padres, but no lifetime mark.

"I think Brock has really good stuff," Roberts said. "But what we've seen is sometimes he nibbles and doesn't attack and isn't aggressive, so it's a tough go for him.

"But when he is attacking with his fastball and he has the slider and a plus-change, he can get major league hitters out. And that is what I expect to see from him."

Stewart will be opposed by lefty Clayton Richard (6-13, 4.96). Richard is 7-6 against the Dodgers (with a 4.15 ERA) and that includes going 1-2 in four starts.

"They've seen him a lot and you can see the physical adjustments some of them have made in the box when they become more comfortable with him," Green said. "But he is smart and he'll make adjustments back. But it is definitely a chess match."

The Padres will turn to Jordan Lyles (0-2, 6.94) in the nightcap as he makes his Padres debut.

"He's moved back and forth through time with the way he throws his fastball," Green said. "He's got a four-seam fastball and he throws the sinker."

Lyles is 27-45 over seven major league seasons with two clubs. Against the Dodgers, he's 0-3 with a 7.73 ERA.

"The real change in him is trying to find out which fastball is best for him," Green said. "He's gone power four-seam and power sinker. He was throwing the ball well at the end of the El Paso season and we definitely need someone to take down some innings for us and give us a chance to win games."

Yu Darvish (8-10, 3.88) will oppose Lyles. Darvish is 1-0 with a 3.21 lifetime ERA versus the Padres.

Darvish is making second start since being sprung from the disabled list. He was decent on Sunday, giving up three runs on six hits in five innings. Darvish's fastball command was elusive for most of his losing effort against the Marlins.

Roberts said Darvish has been working on his delivery in between starts.

"To take it from a bullpen to a game, obviously things speed up," Roberts said.