The Los Angeles Dodgers continued their hot stretch with a 5-4 win over the Colorado Rockies and now look to win the series with Clayton Kershaw on the mound.
Kershaw makes his 14th start of the season and aims to build on a strong stretch after a June 28 disaster at Coors Field. Since allowing six earned runs on nine hits in just four innings against Colorado last month, Kershaw has posted a 1.67 ERA and a 1.71 FIP over the last 27 innings.
In that span, Kershaw allowed a measly .156 batting average to opposing hitters and pitched to a 30-to-3 strikeout to walk ratio.
Kershaw rode that success into a scoreless appearance in the 2022 All-Star Game. On the season he is 7-2 with a 2.49 ERA, and a 2.61 FIP, which is on track to be his best season from a statistical standpoint since 2018.
The 34-year-old is having a renaissance year for the Dodgers, but unfortunately, he again faces the challenge of pitching at Coors Field. In his career, Kershaw has a 4.81 ERA, over 149.2 innings at the Rockies’ home ballpark.
Coors Field is a known hitter’s playground, and like many, it is home to Kershaw’s worst career numbers. But the Dodgers’ offense has been on fire as of late and will need to keep the scoring up to avoid any mishaps.
The Rockies counter with Kyle Freeland, who is fresh off of an outing against the Milwaukee Brewers in which he collected seven strikeouts over seven shutout innings.
However, Freeland has struggled in his prior seven starts with a 5.02 ERA and has allowed 24 earned runs in the past 43 innings with only 28 strikeouts.
Freeland is 5-7 with a 4.64 ERA over 19 starts this season, but against the Dodgers in 2022, he has allowed 12 earned runs on 17 hits in 15.1 innings.
Trea Turner enters play on a 16-game hitting streak, and since July 1, the Dodgers possess the best offense in baseball. Their 120 wRC+ is tied with the Yankees at No. 1, but their team .847 on-base plus slugging percentage this month is the top mark.
Prior to the game, the Dodgers traded Zach McKinstry to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Chris Martin. James Outman was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City to take McKinstry’s spot on the active roster.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Trea Turner
1B: Freddie Freeman
DH: Will Smith
2B: Hanser Alberto
LF: Trayce Thompson
3B: Max Muncy
C: Austin Barnes
CF: Cody Bellinger
Rockies lineup
RF: Charlie Blackmon
DH: Kris Bryant
1B: C.J. Cron
2B: Brendan Rodgers
SS: José Iglesias
CF: Randal Grichuk
C: Elias Díaz
3B: Garrett Hampson
LF: Yonathan Diaz
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