The Los Angeles Dodgers became the first team to reach 60 wins this season after defeating the San Diego Padres, 5-1, in the opener of a four-game series at Dodger Stadium.
The Fourth of July victory increased the Dodgers’ winning streak to four, as they now hold a commanding 14.5 game advantage over the second-place Colorado Rockies in the National League West standings.
The Padres, who are currently slotted in fourth place in the division, find themselves on the opposite end of the spectrum, having lost five consecutive contests.
Looking to help keep those streaks alive is Clayton Kershaw, who has historically dominated San Diego over the course of his illustrious career. Entering Friday, the 31-year-old owns a 19-6 record, 2.02 ERA and 0.98 WHIP with 247 strikeouts in 235.2 innings pitched against the Padres (36 starts).
Kershaw hasn’t lost to the Padres since June 21, 2013 — a span that has now reached six full calendar years. During that timeframe, Kershaw is 11-0 with a 1.37 ERA in 16 starts against San Diego. The Dodgers are 16-0 in those appearances.
In two starts against the Padres this season, Kershaw is 1-0 with a 4.15 ERA and 1.00 WHIP in 13 innings of work. He enters with an overall 7-2 record, 3.23 ERA, 3.75 FIP and 1.07 WHIP with 82 strikeouts compared to 15 walks in 92 frames (14 starts).
Friday marks Kershaw’s final start of the first half. He will represent the Dodgers in the 2019 MLB All-Star Game at Progressive Field on July 9, which marks his eighth career appearance and first since 2017.
The Padres counter with Eric Lauer, who looks to bounce back from a shorter-than-usual start against the St. Louis Cardinals on June 28. In just four innings of work, he allowed one run on six hits while recording three strikeouts.
The left-hander enters with a 5-7 record, 4.22 ERA, 3.98 FIP and 1.34 WHIP in 85.1 innings this season (16 starts). He last faced the Dodgers on May 3 and was tabbed with a no-decision, yielding four hits and two runs in five innings pitched.
In his career against Los Angeles, Lauer is 3-0 with an excellent 1.46 ERA and 1.05 WHIP over 24.2 innings (four starts). On the road this season, he owns a 2-4 record, 6.49 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in 34.2 innings of work (seven starts).
Dodgers lineup:
SS: Chris Taylor
CF: Alex Verdugo
3B: Justin Turner
RF: Cody Bellinger
1B: Max Muncy
2B: Kiké Hernandez
LF: Kyle Garlick
C: Austin Barnes
P: Clayton Kershaw
Padres lineup:
SS: Fernando Tatis Jr.
1B: Eric Hosmer
3B: Manny Machado
RF: Franmil Reyes
LF: Hunter Renfroe
C: Francisco Mejia
2B: Ian Kinsler
P: Eric Lauer
CF: Manuel Margot
