The Los Angeles Dodgers snapped a two-game losing streak by defeating the Detroit Tigers in the opener and now can take the series with another victory on Saturday as Clayton Kershaw chases franchise history.
Kershaw makes his fourth start of the season currently sitting at 2,693 career strikeouts, placing him four away from passing Don Sutton to become the Dodgers’ all-time leader.
Kershaw is also close to becoming third on the Dodgers’ all-time wins list, but it will take at least two more games for him to tie Dazzy Vance’s 190. Sutton holds the Dodgers record with 233 career wins, while Don Drysdale is second at 209.
The veteran southpaw is coming off a solid outing against the San Diego Padres in which he allowed one run and four hits over five innings of work. After the game, the former MVP said setting the Dodgers’ strikeout record wasn’t on his mind during the start, but hopes it happens soon.
“I didn’t really think about that,” Kershaw said of the all-time Dodgers strikeout leaders list. “I never really try to think about strikeouts, but it is something special. Hopefully I do it at some point this year.”
The three-time Cy Young Award winner enters at 3-0 with a 2.65 ERA, 2.10 FIP and 0.59 WHIP in 17 innings this season. In two career starts against the Tigers — his last coming in 2011 — he is 1-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 0.54 WHIP across 13 frames.
He has only pitched more than five innings in one start, but he expects that to change in the coming weeks.
Detroit counters with Beau Brieske, who makes only the second start of his MLB career. He was tabbed with a loss in his debut against the Colorado Rockies last week after allowing three runs and three hits with three strikeouts over five innings pitched.
Prior to the game the Dodgers optioned Andre Jackson to Triple-A Oklahoma City and placed Mitch White on the COVID injured list. Zach McKinstry was recalled and Carson Fulmer’s contract was selected.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
SS: Trea Turner
3B: Max Muncy
DH: Justin Turner
CF: Cody Bellinger
LF: Chris Taylor
2B: Gavin Lux
C: Austin Barnes
Tigers lineup
RF: Robbie Grossman
SS: Javier Baez
DH: Miguel Cabrera
LF: Austin Meadows
1B: Spencer Torkelson
2B: Jonathan Schoop
3B: Jeimer Candelario
C: Dustin Garneau
CF: Derek Hill
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