The Los Angeles Dodgers see the return of a staring pitcher for a third time in the past 10 days, with Clayton Kershaw the latest to be activated off the disabled list. Kershaw was initially scheduled to make a rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City.
Instead, he takes the mound to face the New York Mets in a duel with Jacob deGrom. Kershaw is 8-0 with a 1.84 ERA and held opponents to a .184 batting average in 12 career starts against the Mets.
Included in that is a 3-0 mark and 1.31 ERA in five starts at Citi Field. While enduring two separate stints on the disabled list for biceps tendinitis and back trouble, respectively, this season, Kershaw is 1-4 with a 2.76 ERA, 3.47 FIP and 1.12 WHIP in eight starts.
Whereas Kershaw has enjoyed career success against the Mets, deGrom is on a role in present day. Since allowing three runs to the Washington Nationals on April 16, the right-hander has pitched to a minuscule 0.90 ERA, 0.98 WHIP and .196 batting average against in his past 11 starts.
During that stretch deGrom has amassed 90 strikeouts against 18 walks over 70.1 innings pitched, but only gone 3-2 because of a lack of run support.
deGrom faces a Dodgers lineup that doesn’t include Chris Taylor for a second straight game. He was removed Wednesday due to hamstring tightness and said at the time he didn’t expect to miss any action. Despite Taylor’s absence, it’s still not believed to be a DL situation.
Chase Utley, who has long drawn the ire of the Mets fan base, starts at second. Utley returned from the disabled list for Friday’s series opener but did not appear in the contest.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Joc Pederson
1B: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
RF: Yasiel Puig
C: Yasmani Grandal
SS: Kiké Hernandez
2B: Chase Utley
P: Clayton Kershaw
Mets lineup:
LF: Brandon Nimmo
3B: Todd Frazier
2B: Asdrubal Cabrera
1B: Wilmer Flores
CF: Michael Conforto
RF: Jose Bautista
C: Devin Mesoraco
SS: Amed Rosario
P: Jacob deGrom
