The Los Angeles Dodgers were seemingly unfazed by the All-Star break, as they began their road trip with a three-game series from the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Los Angeles enters play Tuesday with a nine-game winning streak and 29-4 in their last 33 games.
Should the Dodgers defeat the Chicago White Sox in the series opener, they will become the first National League team to go on a 30-4 run since the New York Giants did so 81 years ago. Justin Turner and Alex Wood argued the hot streak is much more indicative of the overall team as opposed to simply being a strong stretch of play.
The Dodgers figure to be in good hands at Guaranteed Rate Field with Clayton Kershaw on the mound. He’s not lost a start since May 1, and the Dodgers have won each of his last 13 outings. Kershaw is 10-0 with a 1.98 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in that span.
Overall on the season, he’s 14-2 with a 2.18 ERA, 3.00 FIP and 0.88 WHIP, while striking out 159 batters compared to just 22 walks in 132.1 innings pitched.
Kershaw’s start is his first on the road against the White Sox, regardless of which name their home ballpark is under. In three career starts against the White Sox he is 1-1 with a 4.00 ERA and 1.33 WHIP.
Jose Abreu and Melky Cabrera have each hit one home run off Kershaw in their careers, as Abreu is 1-for-3 and Cabrera is 2-for-11.
Opposing Kershaw is veteran right-hander Miguel Gonzalez. The 33-year-old is 4-8 with a 5.15 ERA, 5.17 FIP and 1.50 WHIP in 13 starts this season. In 78.2 innings of work he has struck out 45 and walked 26.
Gonzalez has been better at home this season, going 3-2 with a 3.98 ERA and 1.26 WHIP in five starts. This marks his first career start against Los Angeles, his hometown team as he grew up in San Fernando, Calif.
This is Gonzalez’s first start since June 14, as he spent the last month on the disabled list with A/C joint inflammation.
Dodgers rookie Cody Bellinger carried his outstanding first half into the second half, further dispelling the notion that the Home Run Derby will negatively impact a swing. He went 5-for-12 with a home run and three RBIs in the three games against the Miami Marlins, including hitting for the cycle last Saturday.
Less than one hour prior to first pitch, the White Sox announced Todd Frazier was a “healthy scratch” from the lineup. Frazier has been the subject of recent trade rumors.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Chris Taylor
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Cody Bellinger
2B: Logan Forsythe
CF: Joc Pederson
C: Yasmani Grandal
RF: Yasiel Puig
DH: Chase Utley
White Sox lineup:
SS: Tim Anderson
LF: Melky Cabrera
1B: Jose Abreu
DH: Yolmer Sanchez
RF: Avisail Garcia
3B: Matt Davidson
2B: Tyler Saladino
C: Kevan Smith
CF: Adam Engel
