The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to 60 wins this season, enter play Sunday afternoon with a five-game winning streak and at 60-29 hold the best record in the Majors. They can complete a 10th series sweep this season by defeating the Kansas City Royals.
The series finale is a matchup between southpaws Danny Duffy and Clayton Kershaw. Duffy and Kershaw started opposite one another on June 24, 2014 at Kauffman Stadium. Duffy is making his second start since returning from a strained oblique suffered in late May.
He allowed two runs on five hits in 5.2 innings against the Seattle Mariners on July 4. The Lompoc, Calif., native grew up attending Dodgers games as a child, and now makes his first career start at Dodger Stadium.
Duffy recently voiced some displeasure and cynicism for MLB after being drug tested a 12th time this season. The 28-year-old is 5-4 with a 3.51 ERA, 3.55 FIP and 1.36 WHIP in 12 starts.
Duffy has a winning record in seven road starts this season (3-2) but owns a higher ERA (4.10) and WHIP (1.49) than he does at home. In addition, each of the four home runs he’s allowed have come on the road, including two in one game.
Kershaw’s start against the Royals in 2014 is the only of his career. He allowed six hits but recorded eight strikeouts en route to throwing eight shutout innings.
Over his past three starts, Kershaw has 31 strikeouts and not given up an earned run in 20 innings pitched. It’s also been a stretch without a home run allowed since Kershaw was tagged by the New York Mets for a career-high four homers on June 19.
“You guys kept telling me I was giving up too many homers, so I tried to stop doing that,” he deadpanned after his last outing. In 10 home starts this season, the three-time Cy Young Award winner is 7-1 with a 2.51 ERA.
Overall, Kershaw enters 13-2 with a 2.19 ERA and 0.89 WHIP in 18 starts. Opponents are batting .196/.234/.350 off the left-handed ace. By pitching Sunday, Kershaw is not eligible to participate in the 2017 All-Star Game in Miami on Tuesday.
Eric Hosmer singled twice on Saturday to extend his hitting streak to 14 games, and is 3-for-9 through the first two games of the series. Former Dodgers catcher Drew Butera spells Salvador Perez behind the plate.
Corey Seager receives a day of rest, which puts Kiké Hernandez at shortstop. Yasmani Grandal was unlikely to start against Duffy, and that was further cemented when Grandal was removed Saturday due to a left hand contusion. He’s available off the bench.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Logan Forsythe
LF: Chris Taylor
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Cody Bellinger
C: Austin Barnes
SS: Kiké Hernandez
RF: Yasiel Puig
CF: Trayce Thompson
P: Clayton Kershaw
Royals lineup:
2B: Whit Merrifield
3B: Torres 3B
CF: Lorenzo Cain
1B: Eric Hosmer
RF: Jorge Bonifacio
SS: Aclides Escobar
LF: Jorge Soler
C: Drew Butera
P: Danny Duffy
