(SportsNetwork.com) - Hyun-Jin Ryu tries to follow up a terrific first start of the season on Sunday when the Los Angeles Dodgers resume their schedule in the opener of a three-game set with the San Diego Padres at Petco Park.
After Los Angeles beat the Arizona Diamondbacks to open the season in Sydney, Australia, Ryu tossed five scoreless innings to lead the Dodgers to a win in the second game.
Dodgers' ace and reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw, who picked up the win in that first game, had been slated to start on Sunday, but was scratched due to a back issue.
The Dodgers have contended that it was nothing serious, but Kershaw is headed to the 15-day disabled list for the first time in his career.
"I'm not going to get into specifics," Kershaw told reporters. "I can't pitch right now. It's frustrating. I've been hurt before where I knew when I'd be able to pitch. I'm getting better right now, just not fast enough. You don't feel like you're a part of the team when you're hurt. It's not a good feeling."
So, it will be Ryu, who followed up a solid rookie season a year ago, by limiting the Diamondbacks to just two hits, while striking out five. Ryu, though, is battling an injury of his own, as he hurt his toe, while running the bases in Australia.
San Diego, meanwhile, will counter with righty Andrew Cashner, who earned his first-ever Opening Day start after a breakthrough 2013 campaign. Cashner led the Padres with a 3.09 earned run average last season and was second in wins with a 10-9 record in 31 games (26 starts).
"He's the guy we want to start the season with. I like what we've seen out of Cash, his development in so many different areas the last 12 or so months leads us to believe he's going to be a guy in the front of the rotation who can do great things for us," Padres manager Bud Black said.
Cashner was a bright spot last season for a Padres team that was beset by injuries and stumbled to a second straight 76-86 finish.
The Padres are led by third baseman Chase Headley and outfielder Carlos Quentin. However, Quentin will open the season on the DL with a bruised left knee.
The Dodgers won 11 of the 19 matchups between these teams last season.
[SportsNetwork.com]
