The San Diego Padres feature five newcomers atop their revamped lineup, and each has made contributions through the first two games of the season.
Brandon McCarthy now looks to make an impression of his own in his first start for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
San Diego seeks its first series win at Dodger Stadium in six tries as the clubs conclude a three-game set Wednesday night.
Wil Myers, Derek Norris, Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Will Middlebrooks all were acquired as part of general manager A.J. Preller's massive rebuild in search of the Padres' first postseason appearance since 2006.
Norris went 2 for 4 while Kemp had two hits and three RBIs in his first game against his former team, but San Diego fell to the Dodgers in Monday's season opener 6-3.
Kemp was the only of the five who didn't drive in a run Tuesday as the Padres won 7-3. Norris had a two-run double between RBI singles from Myers and Middlebrooks in a four-run ninth.
Apr 7, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; San Diego Padres catcher Derek Norris (3) hits a two-run RBI double during the ninth inning against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. San Diego Padres win 7-3.
"We've got guys all the way through the order who can swing and drive the ball, and you can change a game really quick," said Clint Barmes, who entered as a pinch hitter in the seventh.
Craig Kimbrel, acquired with Melvin Upton Jr. from Atlanta on Sunday, struck out the side in the bottom of the inning in his Padres debut.
"The jersey might have changed, but the object and the goal I have on the field is still the same," Kimbrel said. "It was good to get that first one out of the way."
Dodgers catcher Yasmani Grandal, who was acquired in the deal that sent Kemp to San Diego, made a crucial throwing error that sparked the Padres' big final inning.
San Diego now looks to win its first series at Dodger Stadium since sweeping a three-game set from April 15-17, 2013. McCarthy hopes to do his part to prevent that while proving his rough spring was nothing more than a blip on the beginning of his Dodgers tenure.
McCarthy (10-15, 4.05 ERA) signed a four-year, $48 million deal in December after going 7-5 with a 2.89 ERA in 14 starts with the New York Yankees, who acquired him from Arizona on July 6.
The right-hander, though, had a 6.62 ERA over 17 2-3 innings in spring training. McCarthy will try to put that behind him as he faces the Padres, against whom he went 2-0 with a 2.61 ERA in three starts last season before the trade.
McCarthy will be opposed by Andrew Cashner, who also has something to prove in his season debut.
Cashner (5-7, 2.55) was San Diego's opening day starter last season and allowed one run in six innings of the Padres' 3-1 win over Los Angeles. He gave up two earned runs or fewer in eight of his first nine starts before missing three weeks with right elbow soreness.
The right-hander later had to sit out nearly two months with a shoulder problem. He returned to the rotation for good Aug. 23 and went 3-1 with a 2.87 ERA over his last seven starts, including 1-0 with a 2.08 ERA in two outings against the Dodgers.
Despite showing the injuries didn't slow him down, Cashner begins 2015 as San Diego's No. 3 starter after the signing of James Shields and Tyson Ross' development into an All-Star.
Cashner has a 1.53 in six starts and 11 relief appearances in his career against the Dodgers.
