One night after rallying late to come away with a victory in extra innings, the Los Angeles Dodgers can now complete a three-game sweep of the Arizona Diamondbacks at Dodger Stadium.
Clayton Kershaw looks for continued success in his sixth start of the season. He was dominant in his most recent outing against the San Francisco Giants on Aug. 27, allowing just four hits over six shutout innings.
On the year, Kershaw owns a 4-1 record with a minuscule 1.80 ERA, 3.50 FIP and 0.77 WHIP in 30 innings pitched. He last faced the Diamondbacks on Aug. 2, yielding just three hits and striking out six batters in 5.2 innings of work. The start was Kershaw’s first this season.
In his career against the Diamondbacks, Kershaw is 17-10 with a 2.77 ERA and 1.07 WHIP across 211.1 innings pitched (34 starts).
Arizona counters with Luke Weaver, who is in the midst of a struggle-filled campaign. Entering Thursday, he was the Major League leader with five losses, while also sporting career-worsts in ERA (8.23), FIP (5.66) and WHIP (1.76).
Weaver looks to bounce back from a rough start against the Giants in which he allowed four runs on eight hits over just three innings pitched.
The right-hander last faced the Dodgers on Aug. 1, taking the loss after giving up seven hits, six runs and three walks in four innings of work.
Weaver faces a Dodgers lineup that features the return of Cody Bellinger. He’s missed the past two games due to a sore right lat but was said by manager Dave Roberts to be improving.
There was a sense Bellinger could have returned Wednesday night, but the club elected to err on the side of caution. Bellinger is starting at first base in the series finale.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Max Muncy
1B: Cody Bellinger
CF: Chris Taylor
LF: Joc Pederson
DH: Matt Beaty
2B: Kiké Hernandez
C: Austin Barnes
Diamondbacks lineup
CF: Tim Locastro
RF: Kole Calhoun
1B: Christian Walker
LF: David Peralta
SS: Nick Ahmed
2B: Josh Rojas
3B: Andy Young
DH: Daulton Varsho
C: Carson Kelly
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