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Cubs Vs. Dodgers Game Preview: Clayton Kershaw Looks To Bolster Case For All-Star Game Start

Matthew Moreno
3 Min Read
Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Dodgers remained undefeated against the Chicago Cubs this season behind a second walk-off win on their current homestand and now are in position to take the series at Dodger Stadium.

Clayton Kershaw toes the rubber for his 11th start of the season, entering 5-2 with a 2.57 ERA and 1.05 WHIP. Kershaw doesn’t have the same number of innings pitched as other candidates due to spending time on the injured list, but there’s been a growing discussion in support of the left-hander starting the All-Star Game at Dodger Stadium.

When Kershaw last faced the Cubs at Wrigley Field on May 7, he scattered five hits over seven shutout innings. The performance was a bit of redemption as it was in 2021 that Kershaw suffered one of the worst starts of his career.

Through nine career outings against the Cubs at Dodger Stadium, Kershaw is 6-1 with a 2.44 ERA to go along with 79 strikeouts against 11 walks over 59 innings pitched.

With Kershaw on the mound, Austin Barnes is behind the plate, but Will Smith remains in the Dodgers lineup as well as the designated hitter.

The Cubs counter with Marcus Stroman, who returns for his first start since June. Stroman made one rehab start for Triple-A Iowa while recovering from a shoulder injury.

He’s 2-5 with a 5.32 ERA over nine starts, and has yet to face the Dodgers this season. Stroman allowed nine runs on 10 hits, including three home runs, in his last outing for the Cubs.

Stroman faces a streaking Dodgers team that has won five games in a row and are a National League-best 28-13 at home. L.A. is 13-5 overall against the NL Central this year.

Should Justin Turner appear, he is on seven-game hitting streak and is 15-for-31 with four home runs in his last nine.

Dodgers lineup

RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Trea Turner
1B: Freddie Freeman
DH: Will Smith
3B: Justin Turner
LF: Jake Lamb
2B: Gavin Lux
CF: Cody Bellinger
C: Austin Barnes

Cubs lineup

2B: Christopher Morel
DH: Willson Contreras
3B: Patrick Widsom
RF: Seiya Suzuki
SS: Nico Hoerner
LF: Ian Happ
C: Yan Gomes
1B: P.J. Higgins
CF: Nelson Velázquez

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Matthew Moreno is a journalist from Whittier, Calif., who is a credentialed reporter and is currently the Managing Editor of DodgerBlue.com and LakersNation.com. In addition to covering Los Angeles Dodgers and Los Angels Lakers, Matthew has a strong passion for keeping up to date with the sneakerhead culture. It began with Michael Jordan and Air Jordan shoes, and has carried over to Kobe Bryant's signature line with Nike. Matthew previously was the lead editor and digital strategist at Dodgers Nation, and the co-editor and lead writer at Reign of Troy, where he covered USC Trojans Football. Matthew graduated from California State Long Beach University with a major in journalism and minor in communications. Contact: matt@mediumlargela.com