After sweeping the Los Angeles Angels in the Freeway Series, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue their homestand in the opener of a three-game set against the Cleveland Guardians.
The Dodgers enter play at 39-23 and trail the first-place San Diego Padres by a half-game in the National League West standings. The Guardians have jumped out to a 32-27 record and are two games behind the first-place Minnesota Twins in the American League Central.
Friday’s matchup between the Dodgers and Guardians will be exclusively broadcast on Apple TV+. The app is available on all Apple devices and additional platforms, including Amazon Fire TV, Roku devices, Chromecast with Google TV, select smart TVs, gaming consoles, and some set-top cable and satellite boxes.
Clayton Kershaw makes his second appearance since returning from the 10-day injured list and seventh overall start of the season. The left-hander allowed two runs on three hits over four innings of work against the San Francisco Giants, throwing 71 pitches in his first outing since May 7.
Kershaw is 4-1 with a 2.12 ERA, 2.70 FIP and 0.79 WHIP in 34 innings pitched this season. In two career starts against the Guardians, the 34-year-old owns a 1-0 record, 4.50 ERA and 1.25 WHIP across 12 innings.
Kershaw was originally slated to pitch Saturday, but again was swapped in the rotation order with Julio Urías.
Cleveland counters with Zach Plesac, who looks to bounce back from an inconsistent outing against the Oakland Athletics. He allowed four runs (three earned) on eight hits in six innings pitched but didn’t factor into the decision.
Plesac is 2-4 with a 4.70 ERA, 4.52 FIP and 1.29 WHIP in 61.1 innings this season (11 starts). Friday marks his first career appearance against the Dodgers.
Mookie Betts was scratched from the lineup due to a right rib contusion, which has Trea Turner in the leadoff spot. Eddy Alvarez was moved into the outfield, with Cody Bellinger playing center field.
Dodgers lineup
SS: Trea Turner
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
DH: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
LF: Chris Taylor
RF: Eddy Alvarez
2B: Gavin Lux
Guardians lineup
CF: Myles Straw
SS: Amed Rosario
3B: José Ramirez
RF: Oscar Gonzalez
1B: Josh Naylor
DH: Owen Miller
2B: Andrés Giménez
C: Luke Maile
LF: Steven Kwan
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