The Los Angeles Dodgers managed to end a small two-game skid and need another win to avoid dropping their first series since losing two of three at home to the Washington Nationals from June 5-7. Clayton Kershaw salvaged that with a win in the series finale, and he’s on the mound Sunday.
Kershaw is 11-0 with a 1.84 ERA in his last 14 starts; the Dodgers also won the three games where he did not factor into the decision. The Dodgers set a franchise record with the string of 14 Kershaw starts without a loss.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner is in position to set a personal record for longest winning streak. Kershaw won 11 starts without a loss during the 2014 season, his MVP year.
Kershaw enters 15-2 with a 2.07 ERA and 0.89 WHIP this season. True to a career trend, July has been accompanied by dominance. The 29-year-old is 3-0 with a 0.78 ERA, while limiting opponents to a feeble .183/.212/.232 batting line over three starts this month.
What’s more, Kershaw is 4-0 with a 2.10 ERA in five starts during the day this season, and a lifetime 3-0 with a 1.52 ERA in eight starts against the Braves.
Atlanta counters with a southpaw of their own in Sean Newcomb, who is looking to get back on track. He allowed a combined four runs in his first four starts but has given up 16 runs in the last three starts.
Sunday’s outing is just the eighth start of Newcomb’s career. He went at least six innings in each of the first four starts, but has failed to go more than 5.1 innings in his last three games.
Newcomb faces a Dodgers lineup that sees the return of Justin Turner after he missed a game due to bronchitis. Variations of an upper respiratory illness have swept through the Dodgers clubhouse of late, also claiming Rich Hill and Brock Stewart as victims.
Turner is batting .371/.467/.578 with 19 doubles, 11 home runs and 40 RBI this season. Chris Taylor, who entered off the bench Saturday and hit a two-run triple and home run, starts in left field and is in his familiar leadoff spot.
Brandon Phillips is 9-for-28 in his career, with a home run off Kershaw. Johan Camargo has been streaking this month, batting .362 (21-for-58) with nine doubles and nine runs scored in 17 games.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Chris Taylor
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Cody Bellinger
2B: Logan Forsythe
RF: Kiké Hernandez
C: Austin Barnes
CF: Joc Pederson
P: Clayton Kershaw
Braves lineup:
CF: Ender Inciarte
2B: Brandon Phillips
3B: Freddie Freeman
LF: Matt Kemp
RF: Nick Markakis
C: Tyler Flowers
1B: Matt Adams
SS: Johan Camargo
P: Sean Newcomb
