After being shut out by Chad Kuhl in the series opener, the Los Angeles Dodgers look to get back on track against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field.
Clayton Kershaw makes his ninth start of the season and hopes to build on a solid outing against the Cincinnati Reds. He turned in six innings of one-run ball — his longest start since returning from the 10-day injured list earlier this month — and collected seven strikeouts.
Kershaw did allow seven hits and credited the Reds for making it a difficult afternoon, while noting the outing was another step in the right direction.
The three-time Cy Young Award winner enters at 5-1 with a 2.00 ERA, 2.44 FIP and 0.91 WHIP in 45 innings pitched this season. In 44 career starts against the Rockies, Kershaw is 24-9 with a 3.32 ERA and 1.15 WHIP over 273.2 innings.
Colorado counters with Kyle Freeland, who is coming off an excellent start against the Miami Marlins in which he allowed yielded runs on five hits over seven innings pitched.
The left-hander has logged seven innings in three of his last four starts, and during that span, owns a 3.00 ERA over 27 innings pitched. Freeland is 3-5 with a 4.29 ERA, 4.15 FIP and 1.37 WHIP in 14 overall starts this season.
The 29-year-old has struggled against the Dodgers, going 3-8 with a 4.42 ERA and 1.35 WHIP across 91.2 frames (17 starts). That includes an outing on Opening Day in which he gave up five runs on five hits over 3.2 innings of work.
With Freeland on the mound, the Dodgers lineup features a bevy of right-handed batters. Among them is Hanser Alberto getting a start at second base.
Dodgers lineup
SS: Trea Turner
1B: Freddie Freeman
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Chris Taylor
DH: Max Muncy
2B: Hanser Alberto
RF: Trayce Thompson
LF: Gavin Lux
C: Austin Barnes
Rockies lineup
LF: Connor Joe
RF: Charlie Blackmon
DH: Kris Bryant
1B: C.J. Cron
2B: Brendan Rodgers
SS: José Iglesias
CF: Randal Grichuk
C: Elias Díaz
3B: Elehuris Montero
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