The Los Angeles Dodgers conclude their nine-game homestand on Tuesday night and try to pull even in the four-game Freeway Series. The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim landed the first punch, knocking around Kenta Maeda and Pedro Baez in a 7-6 victory.
Once again coming off a loss, the Dodgers hand the ball to ace Clayton Kershaw, who has been particularly hot in May. Kershaw is 3-0 this month over three starts, with a 0.72 ERA and 0.60 WHIP.
He’s collected 37 strikeouts to just one walk in 25 innings pitched over that stretch, and enters Tuesday’s start riding back-to-back complete-game shutouts at Dodger Stadium. Overall this season, Kershaw is 5-1 with a 1.74 ERA, 1.48 FIP, 0.73 WHIP and 77 strikeouts.
Kershaw is a lifetime 4-2 with a 2.91 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in eight starts against the Angels. He went 2-0 and allowed two runs (one earned) in two starts against Anaheim last season.
The Angels will counter with Jered Weaver, who is hindered by velocity issues. Weaver has lost two of his last three starts; his last win came against the Kansas City Royals on April 26. In his last start against the St. Louis Cardinals, Weaver gave up eight runs in just four innings.
Weaver enters 3-2 with a 6.10 ERA, 5.42 FIP and 1.59 WHIP in seven starts this season. He last faced the Dodgers in May 2013, earning a win. Trayce Thompson makes his expected start in left field, one night after his first career multi-home run game.
Thompson is tied with Joc Pederson and Corey Seager for the team lead in home runs with six. Meanwhile, Adrian Gonzalez, who was removed in the sixth inning due to back stiffness, isn’t in the lineup. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said Gonzalez is available as a pinch-hitter.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
3B: Justin Turner
SS: Corey Seager
1B: Howie Kendrick
CF: Joc Pederson
LF: Trayce Thompson
RF: Yasiel Puig
C: A.J. Ellis
P: Clayton Kershaw
Angels lineup:
3B: Yunel Escobar
RF: Kole Calhoun
CF: Mike Trout
1B: Albert Pujols
C: Geovany Soto
2B: Johnny Giavotella
LF: Shane Robinson
P: Jered Weaver
SS: Gregorio Petit
