it would be hard to tilt the scales any more in one direction than they will be

LOS ANGELES — As pitching matchups go http://www.whitesoxfanproshop.com/authentic-michael-jordan-jersey ,when the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers meet Saturday evening in Los Angeles.The Padres will go with right-hander Brett Kennedy and his three career starts. The Dodgers will counter with Clayton Kershaw and his three Cy Young Awards.Kennedy (0-2, 8.36 ERA) has yet to win his first major league game, although he finally looks to be getting comfortable with his surroundings. After getting crushed for a combined 11 runs on 20 hits over his first two big league starts, Kennedy held the Arizona Diamondbacks to two runs on six hits over five innings Sunday.Article continues below ...Without a blazing fastball to work with, Kennedy has to rely on pinpoint control. Even though he was better in his start against the Diamondbacks, he did issue three walks. He will now face a Dodgers team that typically is disciplined when it comes to the strike zone.“He definitely threw the ball better; I thought his secondary stuff was better last time out,” Padres manager Andy Green said about Kennedy. “(The Dodgers) team will be a real challenge for him. They will load (the lineup) down with lefties and he’s going to have to execute to pitch well against them. I look forward to him rising up to meet that challenge, but it takes a while for some guys to get their footing in the big leagues and he’s starting to find it.”Pitching opposite Kershaw could present an intimidation factor, although Kennedy already has dealt with pitching against an ace. Zack Greinke was the Diamondbacks’ pitcher when Kennedy last took the mound.Meeting Kershaw at Dodger Stadium, though, is a different level entirely. And Kershaw (6-5, 2.40) has been as good as ever lately, going unbeaten over his last five starts with a 1.82 ERA over 34 2/3 innings in that stretch.Kershaw last lost a game on July 21 Carlton Fisk Jersey , and even then he gave up just one earned run. The defense let him down to the tune of three unearned runs that day against the Brewers. Since June 23, when Kershaw returned from his second stint on the disabled list, he is 5-1 with a 2.14 ERA.Add to the mix an increased sense of urgency from Kershaw and the Padres figure to be in a tough spot Saturday.“I don’t know how many games we’ve got left, but it’s now or never,” Kershaw said, according to mlb.com. “We better start playing, we better get good.”Kershaw is 18-6 with a 1.89 ERA in 33 career starts against San Diego, and he pitched six scoreless innings in his only start against the Padres this season.The Dodgers’ inconsistent offense roared back to life Friday in an 11-1 victory over the Padres, with Chris Taylor, Justin Turner and Max Muncy hitting home runs. Muncy moved one home run away from No. 30 on the season.The victory helped the Dodgers gain a game on the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks as they moved 3 1/2 games out of the division’s top spot. The Dodgers also moved 2 1/2 games behind the second-place Colorado Rockies. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Lucas Giolito and the Chicago White Sox were thinking about Rick Renteria all night long.They banded together to get their hospitalized manager one of his favorite presents: another win.Giolito struck out six in six innings, Matt Davidson homered and the White Sox spoiled Stephen Gonsalves’ major league debut by holding off the Minnesota Twins for an 8-5 victory on Monday.Chicago played without the 56-year-old Renteria after he was taken to a hospital for lightheadedness. He was going to stay overnight for observation.“Our thoughts and prayers were with him the whole evening,” said bench coach Joe McEwing, who ran the team in Renteria’s absence. “He’s always in our mind. He’s such an amazing leader and amazing person.”Renteria was at the ballpark when the issue arose and was taken to Hennepin County Medical Center as a precaution. A team official said Renteria went through tests http://www.whitesoxfanproshop.com/authentic-jose-abreu-jersey , but didn’t have any further information.“Got to the field and I noticed Ricky wasn’t here, and that’s obviously concerning,” Giolito said. “We just grinded through it without our manager. Joe’s done a fantastic job in the situations he’s had to manage and team came together and we got a good win.”Chicago won for the fourth time in five games in the makeup of snowed-out April contest. Davidson drove in three runs, and Jose Abreu had two hits and two RBIs.Giolito (9-9) allowed three runs and five hits in his second straight win. The right-hander has a 3.24 ERA over his last five road starts.Jake Cave and Max Kepler homered for the second straight day for Minnesota, which had won five of six.Gonsalves (0-1) surrendered four runs in just 1 1/3 innings. Considered one of the team’s top prospects, Gonsalves gave up six hits, walked two and hit a batter.“I think it was a little bit more reflected on how many pitches he kind of overthrew and left up in the zone,” Twins manager Paul Molitor said. “We know that the command at times can be a little sketchy and it’s what’s gotten him into problems along the way.”Giolito entered with a 6.15 ERA and an AL-high 72 walks. He walked two against the Twins.“I think the big difference from now versus earlier in the season is the ability to make adjustments, whether it be a quick, mechanical adjustment or just mentally locking in a little bit better, focusing better,” Giolito said of his progress. “I feel like I’m able to bounce back from a few bad pitches and grind through, especially a night like tonight where command wasn’t the best.”Davidson’s two-run shot in the seventh extended Chicago’s homer streak to 12 games. It’s the team’s longest streak since hitting at least one in 15 straight games in 2012.GONSALVES’ SHORT DEBUTThe 24-year-old Gonsalves is the fourth Twins starter to make his debut this season. The 6-foot-5 left-hander was the team’s minor league pitcher of the year in 2016 Melky Cabrera Jersey , but he has been hampered by control problems. He had 65 walks in 120 2/3 minor league innings this season.Gonsalves allowed two hits and struck out two in a scoreless first inning. But the first five batters reached in the second. Davidson had an RBI single, Abreu doubled in two runs and Gonsalves’ night was over after walking Daniel Palka on four pitches.“I didn’t slow it down, I kind of kept letting it get to me,” Gonsalves said of his excitement. “I sped up myself, and I finally took a breath after my first walk, shook my cleats out and dusted the mud off. Unfortunately, it kept piling up.”TRAINER’S ROOMWhite Sox: OF Leury Garcia left in the fourth inning with a left hamstring strain after trying to run down a liner from Mitch Garver. He will be re-evaluated Tuesday in Chicago.Twins: RHP Ervin Santana will see hand specialist Thomas Varecka after having to go back on the disabled list with continued problems with the middle finger of his throwing hand. … Slugger Logan Morrison had hip surgery. Molitor said the labrum was repaired and bone spurs removed. Morrison is out the rest of the season.UP NEXTThe Twins and White Sox travel to Chicago for a two-game series. Right-hander Michael Kopech, one of baseball’s top pitching prospects, is scheduled to make his major league debut on Tuesday. Kopech went 7-7 with a 3.70 ERA and 170 strikeouts in 126 1/3 innings for Triple-A Charlotte this season. Minnesota starts right-hander Jose Berrios (11-8, 3.75 ERA). Berrios is 2-1 with a 4.10 ERA in five starts since making his first All-Star Game appearance.