LOS ANGELES -- After yet another disheartening loss to the rival Dodgers in Game 1 of the NL Division Series on Tuesday night, the Padres have to find a way to bounce back in a hurry with Game 2 set for Wednesday night at Dodger Stadium.

The Padres continued their season-long struggles against the Dodgers in their 5-3 loss. They dropped 14 out of 19 against L.A. in the regular season and lost all six series between the two clubs. But the good news for San Diego is right-hander Yu Darvish is slated to take the mound in Game 2.

Darvish pitched well against the Dodgers this season, especially in his last two starts against them. He also pitched like an ace in 30 starts this year, going 16-8 with a 3.10 ERA and 197 strikeouts in 194 2/3 innings. Four of those starts came against the Dodgers, and he posted a 2.52 ERA with 31 strikeouts, five walks and four homers allowed in 25 innings.

“We have confidence in him,” said third baseman Manny Machado. “We just have to get him some runs. As long as we can get him some runs, I think he's going to go out there and do his job like he's been doing for us lately.”

Darvish threw seven scoreless innings against the Dodgers the last time he faced them, on Sept. 2, allowing two hits and two walks with nine strikeouts. He also limited the Dodgers to two runs over six innings with five strikeouts on Aug. 7. Both starts took place in Los Angeles.

"Obviously, you go in with a plan when you face these guys," Darvish said through interpreter Shingo Horie. "I think I've been a little bit lucky, too, facing these guys. So it's the same thing -- just have a good plan and go into the game."

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Darvish, of course, has a bit of history with Dodger Stadium. This will be his first postseason outing there since Game 7 of the 2017 World Series, which saw Darvish allow five runs (four earned) over just 1 2/3 innings in the Dodgers’ 5-1 loss to the Astros.

Darvish, who was thought to be tipping his pitches in that outing before news of the Astros' sign-stealing scandal unfolded, said he believes he's learned from that outing and it's made him a better pitcher as a result.

"I feel like I'm a different pitcher from back then," Darvish said. "I think it comes with age and experience. You go through that experience in 2017, and there's a lot to learn from that. That helps you grow to become a better pitcher. Not just me. I've had some help from other staff, coaches around me, but it's a learning experience that you go through and you grow from that."

Darvish found success against the Dodgers this year by utilizing his four-seamer more than he typically does and cutting back a bit on his cutter. Throughout the season, Darvish threw his cutter 35% of the time versus just 25% for his four-seamer. But in his last two outings against the Dodgers, he threw more four-seamers than cutters. 

He has a wide assortment of pitches and also used his slider to his advantage against the Dodgers, while throwing occasional sinkers, splitters and curveballs to keep hitters off-balance. In his last start against the Dodgers, six of his nine strikeouts came on sliders that he mixed in more as the game went along.

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"I feel like the league knows how effective he is with all of his pitches, but his preparation and understanding, he has a reason for throwing each when he does,” said first baseman Josh Bell. “He never really gives any of the hitters the same look the second or third time through. He has so many pitches, it's almost like the hitters are facing a new pitcher up there.”

Whether it was a different cutter/four-seamer mix or the wide variety of pitches at his disposal that has kept the Dodgers off balance is less important than that Darvish simply finds a way to do his part and keep them off the scoreboard.

His teammates will have another tough task with Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw set to start, as he allowed just one run in 12 innings against San Diego this season. Kershaw said he's looking forward to the matchup.

"I consider Yu a friend," Kershaw said. "I've got to know him over the years. We used to play catch in the offseason some in Dallas. Obviously, here we got to play together for half a season. I have a lot of respect for him. I have a lot of respect for the way he pitches, the way he goes about it. Obviously, a tough challenge for us."