fbpx

Dodgers Vs. Diamondbacks Game Preview: Clayton Kershaw Makes 400th Career Start; Miguel Vargas Returns To Lineup

Matthew Moreno
3 Min Read
Mark J. Rebilas/USA TODAY Sports

Clayton Kershaw is making the 400th start of his career and Miguel Vargas is back in the Los Angeles Dodgers lineup for the second game of the series against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Miguel Rojas (left groin tightness) is missing a fourth consecutive game.

Vargas missed the past two games while dealing with residual soreness and inflammation in his right thumb after being hit by a pitch. Vargas was deemed available to pinch-hit in the series opener at Chase Field but did not appear in the Dodgers’ 5-2 win.

Vargas is second in the Majors with nine walks and leads all players (minimum 10 plate appearances) with a .722 on-base percentage. He and the rest of the Dodgers lineup will look to back Kershaw in his second consecutive start against the Diamondbacks.

Kershaw allowed just one run and collected nine strikeouts over six innings to earn a win over Arizona at Dodger Stadium last week.

“It’s good to get the first one on your belt,” Kershaw said after his 2023 debut. “Going into a new season, it’s different. You’ve got to get yourself acclimated to the atmosphere. There’s just no way to prepare, Spring Training or not. A big league game is different.

“So to be able to get back out there and remember what you’re doing, it was nice to pitch with that big lead. It was a great way to start the year.”

Once Kershaw takes the mound, he becomes the 34th pitcher in MLB history with at least 400 starts for one team. The last pitcher to enter that club was Félix Hernández with the Seattle Mariners in 2018. Kershaw also enters the night two wins shy of 200 in his career.

He’s a lifetime 8-10 with a 3.81 ERA and 1.16 WHIP in 21 starts at Chase Field.

Friday’s game is a rematch as Madison Bumgarner starts opposite Kershaw. Bumgarner allowed five runs on four hits, including a Trayce Thompson grand slam, and pitched just four innings at Dodger Stadium.

Dodgers lineup

RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
DH: J.D. Martinez
3B: Max Muncy
2B: Miguel Vargas
CF: Trayce Thompson
LF: James Outman
SS: Chris Taylor
C: Austin Barnes

2B: Ketel Marte
DH: Kyle Lewis
LF: Lourdes Gurriel Jr.
1B: Christian Walker
3B: Evan Longoria
RF: Corbin Carroll
SS: Nick Ahmed
C: Gabriel Moreno
CF: Alek Thomas

Have you subscribed to the Dodger Blue YouTube channel? Be sure to ring the notification bell to watch player interviews, participate in shows and giveaways, and stay up to date on all Dodgers news and rumors!

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