The Los Angeles Dodgers begin their homestand against the Pittsburgh Pirates for a third consecutive series against a sub-.500 team and looking to rebound from losing two of three to the Kansas City Royals.
Clayton Kershaw remained penciled in to start until Monday afternoon, when the Dodgers placed him on the 15-day injured list due to left shoulder inflammation. Kershaw began to experience the discomfort in his shoulder last Tuesday, which prompted him to ask to come out of a start while in the midst of six shutout innings.
Kershaw was treated with a cortisone injection and held out hope he would be in position to take the ball in the series opener. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts indicated there was progress made when Kershaw played catch for a second time over the weekend, but he didn’t complete a bullpen session or throw any breaking balls.
Michael Grove starts in Kershaw’s place, and Gavin Stone also was recalled from Triple-A Oklahoma City. The Dodgers optioned Victor González in order to add Stone onto the roster as well.
The Pirates counter with Mitch Keller, who is 9-3 with a 3.34 ERA and 1.10 WHIP over 17 starts this season. Keller allowed one earned run in three of his five starts last month, but a minimum of four in those two other outings.
Keller picked up a win and held the Dodgers to two runs over six innings in his start at PNC Park on April 27. The Pirates won two of three games in that series after the Dodgers won the opener.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
C: Will Smith
3B: Max Muncy
DH: J.D. Martinez
LF: David Peralta
CF: Jason Heyward
2B: Miguel Vargas
SS: Miguel Rojas
Pirates lineup
LF: Josh Palacios
DH: Bryan Reynolds
CF: Jack Suwinski
1B: Carlos Santana
RF: Henry Davis
SS: Nick Gonzales
2B: Rodolfo Castro
3B: Jared Triolo
C: Austin Hedges
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