After taking the opener at Chase Field, the Los Angeles Dodgers can earn a series win against the Arizona Diamondbacks while keeping pressure on the San Francisco Giants in the National League West race.
Clayton Kershaw takes the mound on an extra day of rest for his third start since coming off the 60-day injured list. He threw 74 pitches in his last outing against the Cincinnati Reds and allowed just one run on three hits over five innings pitched.
Kershaw and the Dodgers have maintained there is enough time remaining for the left-hander to fully stretch back out to a traditional starter’s workload come October, and he should take another step forward Saturday.
Kershaw enters the start with a 10-7 record, 3.27 ERA, 2.80 FIP and 0.97 WHIP in 115.2 innings across 20 games this season. In two previous outings against the Diamondbacks, he yielded just three runs on six hits and collected 13 strikeouts.
Arizona counters with Zac Gallen, who looks for his first win since Aug. 26. He was tabbed with a no-decision in his last start against the Houston Astros, giving up five runs on four hits over six innings of work.
Gallen brings with him into his start a 2-10 record, 4.53 ERA, 4.15 FIP and 1.32 WHIP in 109.1 innings across 21 games. He is 0-1 with a 4.76 ERA and 1.50 WHIP in two previous starts against the Dodgers this season.
Chris Taylor is back in the lineup after being limited to pinch-hitting and playing defense the past four games. Taylor said during a pregame interview neck has improved, then went out and made a pair of spectacular catches after taking over for AJ Pollock in left field.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
2B: Trea Turner
1B: Max Muncy
C: Will Smith
3B: Justin Turner
LF: Chris Taylor
CF: Gavin Lux
P: Clayton Kershaw
Diamondbacks lineup
2B: Ketel Marte
LF: Henry Ramos
RF: Daulton Varsho
1B: Christian Walker
C: Carson Kelly
3B: Josh Rojas
SS: Ildemaro Vargas
CF: Jake McCarthy
P: Zac Gallen
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