After an offensive outburst to earn a series split against the San Diego Padres, the Los Angeles Dodgers now trail south a bit to take on the L.A. Angels in a weekend Freeway Series at Angel Stadium.
Clayton Kershaw gets the ball in the series opener on Friday night, making his third start of the season. His first two outings have brought back mixed results as he looked great in his season debut against the Arizona Diamondbacks, tossing 5.2 shutout innings with six strikeouts to earn a win.
Kershaw then was hit around a little bit by the San Francisco Giants though, allowing four runs in 4.1 innings to take the loss. Overall in 10 innings, he has pitched to a 3.60 ERA, 4.88 FIP and 1.10 WHIP with 12 strikeouts and one walk.
Kershaw’s velocity has ticked up a bit compared to the last two years though, which is definitely a positive sign for the Dodgers.
In 11 career starts against the Angels, Kershaw is 6-2 with a 2.56 ERA and 1.01 WHIP while striking out 88 and walking 23 in 77.1 innings. He has fared well against the game’s best in Mike Trout as the reigning American League MVP is just 2-for-13 with three walks and four strikeouts when facing Kershaw.
Trout is swinging as hot of a bat as anyone in baseball right now, however, hitting .351/.390/.919 with seven home runs and 12 RBI in nine games since returning from the paternity list after welcoming his first child into the world.
Trout isn’t the only former MVP that’s hot though as Mookie Betts is coming off a three-homer game for the Dodgers, the sixth of his career which ties a Major League record.
Betts is now up to a team-leading seven home runs and 15 RBI in 19 games this season, hitting an impressive .319/.380/.694 despite a slow start. He is back in the leadoff spot for the second consecutive game, where he will likely remain for the rest of the year.
For the first time in a couple of weeks, the Dodgers are facing a left-handed pitcher in Patrick Sandoval. The 23-year-old has been solid to start the year, yielding a 2.70 ERA, 4.68 FIP and 1.00 WHIP with eight strikeouts and two walks in 10 innings across two starts.
In 10 games (nine starts) in his debut season last year, Sandoval struggled to the tune of an 0-4 record, 5.03 ERA, 4.59 FIP and 1.37 WHIP. This marks the first time he is facing the Dodgers in his young career.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
LF: AJ Pollock
CF: Cody Bellinger
DH: Chris Taylor
2B: Kiké Hernandez
1B: Edwin Rios
C: Austin Barnes
Angels lineup
SS: David Fletcher
2B: Tommy LaStella
CF: Mike Trout
3B: Anthony Rendon
DH: Shohei Ohtani
1B: Albert Pujols
LF: Justin Upton
C: Max Stassi
RF: Jo Adell
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