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(Sports Network) - Reigning National League Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy is expected to return to the hill for the San Diego Padres today, just in time to try to extend his domination over the Los Angeles Dodgers in the finale of a three-game series at Petco Park.

Peavy has been out of action since May 14 due to a strained right elbow. In losing his second straight outing, Peavy lasted just four innings against the Chicago Cubs and gave up four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out eight. The right-hander landed on the disabled list six days later due to his ailment.

The 27-year-old, who is 4-3 this year with a 2.91 earned run average and 60 strikeouts through 58 2/3 innings, pitched a simulated game on Saturday and is apparently ready to come off the DL.

Peavy defeated the Dodgers in consecutive outings earlier this year and has not lost to them since September 13, 2003 at Dodger Stadium. He held Los Angeles to just a run and two hits in a complete-game gem on April 5 before limiting the Dodgers to three runs on nine hits six days later in Los Angeles.

In his career, Peavy is 11-1 with a 2.31 ERA in 20 starts against the Dodgers. He has struck out 127 batters in 132 1/3 innings against LA and has never lost to them at Petco Park.

The Dodgers may have an answer for Peavy this afternoon in the form of Japanese import Hiroki Kuroda. The 33-year-old is coming off a shutout last time out, the first for a Dodgers pitcher since August 31, 2005.

Kuroda faced the Cubs on Friday and allowed just four hits while striking out a career-high 11 in what was also his first career complete game. The righty is 3-5 with a 3.49 ERA this year, but just 1-5 with a 3.95 ERA in seven road starts.

Kuroda faced the Padres for the first time in his career on April 4 and got the win after holding them to a run and three hits over seven frames. San Diego's lone run came on a solo homer by Brian Giles.

The Padres made today's test a rubber match with a 4-1 victory last night. Randy Wolf (5-4) went seven strong innings, allowing one run on four hits while also matching a season-high with nine strikeouts. Heath Bell pitched a perfect eighth and Trevor Hoffman tossed a scoreless ninth to notch his 15th save of the season.

Edgar Gonzalez and Khalil Greene each clubbed solo home runs for the Padres, who have won six of their last seven games and are 6-3 on a 10-game homestand that ends today. Adrian Gonzalez and Jody Gerut knocked in the other runs for the Padres.

Chad Billingsley (4-7) gave up four runs on eight hits over seven innings to absorb the loss for Los Angeles. Andy LaRoche belted a solo home run for the Dodgers, who have dropped two of three while also splitting the first two tests of a nine-game road trip.

These two clubs have split eight meetings so far, with the Dodgers taking three of five matchups in San Diego.