The long offseason and Spring Training periods are finally complete, as the Los Angeles Dodgers return to Dodger Stadium for the first time since Game 7 of the 2017 World Series to host the rival San Francisco Giants. Clayton Kershaw takes the mound in what will be his franchise-record eighth consecutive start on Opening Day.
Kershaw will surpass Don Drysdale and Don Sutton for most Opening Day starts in Dodgers history. Los Angeles enters 7-0 in season-opening games that the 30-year-old has started.
Kershaw last faced the Giants on Opening Day in 2013, where he singlehandedly propelled the Dodgers to a victory.
In addition to tossing a four-hit, complete-game shutout, Kershaw broke a 0-0 tie in the bottom of the eighth with a leadoff home run against San Francisco reliever George Kontos.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner was on another level this spring, as he accumulated 21.1 shutout innings over six starts with 23 strikeouts to four walks. Opposing batters hit just .162 against Kershaw.
The Giants counter with left-hander Ty Blach, who will be making his first career Opening Day start. Madison Bumgarner was originally slated to take the mound, but he will instead begin the season on the 10-day disabled list after fracturing his pinky in a recent Cactus League start.
Last season, Blach logged three starts (five overall appearances) against the Dodgers and posted a 3.20 ERA and 1.34 WHIP across 25.1 innings. The left-hander has fared well against Kershaw at the plate, having tallied three hits in five career at-bats.
While third baseman Justin Turner recovers from a fractured wrist, Yasiel Puig is the first in line to claim his usual No. 3 spot in the batting order. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts previously said that he wanted to give more opportunities to Puig at the top of the lineup.
Matt Kemp bats sixth and gets the start in left field, in what’s his first Opening Day appearance with the club since 2014. With Logan Forsythe moving over to third base, Kiké Hernandez gets the opportunity to start at second and bat cleanup as he mashed left-handed pitchers a season ago.
The Dodgers won 11 of 19 games against the Giants last season, outscoring them 73-56 on the year.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Chris Taylor
SS: Corey Seager
RF: Yasiel Puig
2B: Kiké Hernandez
1B: Cody Bellinger
LF: Matt Kemp
C: Yasmani Grandal
3B: Logan Forsythe
P: Clayton Kershaw
Giants lineup:
CF: Austin Jackson
2B: Joe Panik
RF: Andrew McCutchen
C: Buster Posey
3B: Evan Longoria
LF: Hunter Pence
1B: Brandon Belt
SS: Brandon Crawford
P: Ty Blach
