The Padres have effectively played shorthanded the last few days, with Ramón Laureano sliding over from left to center field and Gavin Sheets backfilling the left-field vacancy. Merrill's unavailability has coincided with shortstop Xander Bogaerts and second baseman Jake Cronenworth both missing a game apiece because of their own ills.

Dodgers' Blake Snell returns to Petco Park for the first time since he was a Padre, and rides a scoreless streak into the matchup.

The Dodgers' offense could do little against Yu Darvish and the Padres as Blake Snell took the loss despite another strong outing.