After earning a 7-4 win in Monday’s opener, the Los Angeles Dodgers are in position to clinch a ninth consecutive series by defeating the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium.
Clayton Kershaw makes his 20th start of the season and fourth since being activated off the 15-day injured list earlier this month. The left-hander threw only two innings in his last outing against the Cleveland Guardians as a result of the game being suspended due to rain.
In his two other starts for the Dodgers since coming off the IL, Kershaw pitched five innings. He is still looking to build up after missing six weeks because of left shoulder inflammation.
Kershaw enters at 11-4 with a 2.52 ERA, 3.76 FIP, 1.02 WHIP and 9.6 strikeouts per nine in 107.1 innings pitched this season. He owns a 21-12 record, 2.75 ERA and 1.03 WHIP in 43 career starts against the Diamondbacks, including a 1-1 record with a 3.75 ERA in two starts this season.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said a reasonable expectation for Kershaw is five innings or 75 pitches.
Arizona counters with Merrill Kelly, who hopes to build on his best outing of the season against the Cincinnati Reds. He allowed just one hit and collected 12 strikeouts over seven scoreless innings.
Kelly improved to 10-5 with a 2.97 ERA, 3.92 FIP, 1.13 WHIP and 9.6 strikeouts per nine in 136.1 innings this year (23 starts). Despite his overall success, the right-hander has historically struggled against the Dodgers, as he is 0-10 with a 5.03 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in 15 starts.
Kelly nevertheless has posted a minuscule 1.17 ERA in three games against the Dodgers this season.
Dodgers lineup
2B: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
3B: Max Muncy
DH: David Peralta
RF: Jason Heyward
CF: James Outman
LF: Chris Taylor
SS: Miguel Rojas
Diamondbacks lineup
2B: Ketel Marte
DH: Buddy Kennedy
RF: Tommy Pham
1B: Christian Walker
LF: Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
3B: Evan Longoria
CF: Corbin Carroll
SS: Nick Ahmed
C: Gabriel Moreno
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