The Los Angeles Dodgers are in the midst of a bit of a skid as they have lost three straight games, all to National League West opponents. Los Angeles looks to get back in the win column against the Colorado Rockies on Wednesday night in their homestand finale.
Clayton Kershaw is off to another good start to the season, entering 2-1 with a 2.53 ERA, 3.42 FIP and 0.70 WHIP while striking out 22 and walking one in 21.1 innings of work over three starts. His lone loss came to the Rockies at Coors Field on April 8.
Kershaw surrendered eight hits, including three home runs, and allowed four runs in six innings. It was the first time in Kershaw’s career he gave up back-to-back home runs.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner righted the ship in his last outing, holding the Arizona Diamondbacks to one run in 8.1 innings. Kershaw recorded eight strikeouts to outduel former teammate Zack Greinke.
Kershaw for his career is 18-6 with a 3.17 ERA in 33 starts against the Rockies, including 10-2 with a 1.46 ERA at Dodger Stadium. In 10 home starts since May 1, 2016, Kershaw is 9-0 with a 0.47 ERA, while holding opponents to a .130 batting average and striking out 86 against just five walks.
The Dodgers, who are 2-6 against left-handed starters this season, get a second look at Tyler Anderson. While southpaws have largely spelled doomed, the Dodgers enjoyed success against Anderson 10 days ago at Coors Field.
He walked four, allowed five runs on five hits in just five innings of work. Anderson, in his first full Major League season, is 1-2 with an 8.59 ERA, 6.04 FIP and 1.64 WHIP while striking out 12 and walking six in 14.2 innings.
In contrast to conventional wisdom for Rockies pitchers, the 27-year-old has lower career ERA at home (3.36 in 13 starts) compared to the road (5.48 in nine starts).
Corey Seager is a lifetime 4-for-12 (.333 batting average) with a home run off Anderson, and Justin Turner is 7-for-12 (.583), also with a homer.
Arenado and Gerardo Parra are the two Rockies who have found success off Kershaw. Arenado is 12-for-36 (.333) with two home runs, and Parra is 11-for-26 (.423) with a home run.
The Dodgers are without Logan Forsythe (fractured right big toe) and Rob Segedin (sprained right big toe), as both were placed on the 10-day disabled list. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts projected Forsythe will miss around two weeks.
Brett Eibner and Chris Taylor were recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City and both are in the lineup, starting in center field and second base, respectively.
Dodgers lineup:
3B: Kiké Hernandez
SS: Corey Seager
RF: Yasiel Puig
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
C: Yasmani Grandal
LF: Scott Van Slyke
CF: Brett Eibner
2B: Chris Taylor
P: Clayton Kershaw
Rockies lineup:
CF: Charlie Blackmon
2B: DJ LeMahieu
3B: Nolan Arenado
RF: Carlos Gonzalez
1B: Mark Reynolds
LF: Gerardo Parra
SS: Trevor Story
C: Dustin Garneau
P: Tyler Anderson
