First the bad. San Diego has lost six in a row. Now the good. The pitching matchup is Andrew Cashner versus Roberto Hernandez. Cashner is by far the superior pitcher.

Yet the Padres are 'dogs because they are the road team, on a losing streak and Cashner has a 2-7 record. That record is highly misleading, though.

Cashner has a 2.39 ERA on the year. This is his fourth start back from an extended stay on the DL. He has a 2.50 ERA during his last three starts since returning with a 14-to-3 strikeout-to-walk ratio. He has far better numbers than Hernandez and is just entering his prime while Hernandez is merely trying to hang on. Cashner is backed by one of the more solid bullpens in baseball.

Cashner has made five starts lifetime against the Dodgers and has a 1.06 ERA against them. The Padres won both of Cashner's starts against LA this season. Casher gave up just two runs with 13 strikeouts in 12 innings in those starts.

The right-handed Hernandez has an 8.78 career ERA at Dodger Stadium. He gave up four homers in his last start, a 6-4 home loss to the Nationals on Sept. 1. The Padres are 5-2 against right-handers the last seven times facing them. The Padres just saw Hernandez on Aug. 20 and beat him, 4-1, as Hernandez allowed four runs in five innings.

Hernandez isn't in good form either with a 6.46 ERA in his last three starts.