Dodgers Turn to Padres Series With Playoffs Near, Diaz Questions Linger

Los Angeles closes its regular-season schedule against a red-hot San Diego club while reliever Edwin Diaz tries to show he belongs on the postseason roster.

The Los Angeles Dodgers enter the final week of the regular season having gone 14-5 in September, a run built largely against teams with losing records in the Washington Nationals, Cincinnati Reds and San Francisco Giants. A series against the San Diego Padres beginning Tuesday offers a stiffer test before the playoffs begin.

San Diego arrives as one of the hottest teams in baseball, having won 13 of its last 14 games. The Padres need two more wins to clinch a wild-card spot, which would give the franchise playoff appearances in three consecutive seasons for the first time.

The Dodgers hold a magic number of three to secure the second playoff bye, a factor in how they can line up their starting rotation. Manager Dave Roberts described the series as a useful tune-up, noting San Diego is playing as well as anyone in the sport.

Outfielder Andy Pages is expected to come off the injured list on Tuesday. The bigger question mark is reliever Edwin Diaz, who returned from the injured list on Friday and has thrown two scoreless outings.

Diaz's season has been turbulent. After coming back earlier this year from surgery to remove bone chips in his elbow, he posted an 11.85 ERA over nine appearances before landing back on the injured list with neck inflammation. With only six games remaining in the regular season, his chances to demonstrate he is ready for October are limited.

Diaz called the season disappointing but said he has grown from the setbacks and believes he can perform at the level expected of him.