The Los Angeles Dodgers lost to the Seattle Mariners in heart-breaking fashion on Saturday night as they rallied back from a 4-1 deficit with three home runs, only to lose, 5-4, in the 10th on a walk-off balk.
They can still earn a series win over their interleague opponent on Sunday, and they may be in good hands as they send ace Clayton Kershaw to the mound.
Kershaw has been on a bit of a roll as of late, going 4-1 with a 2.24 ERA since coming off the disabled list at the end of June. He has gone at least six innings and given up three earned runs or less in his last eight starts.
Overall in 18 starts this season, Kershaw comes into Sunday’s game with a 5-5 record to go along with a 2.47 ERA, 2.95 FIP and 1.02 WHIP. He has 108 strikeouts compared to just 19 walks in 109.1 innings. Kersaw has faced the Mariners two times in his career, going 2-0 with a 3.46 ERA.
Seattle also is starting a southpaw in 30-year-old Roenis Elias, who is making just his second start this season. In 13 total appearances, Elias is 2-0 with a 2.88 ERA, 2.80 FIP and 1.24 WHIP while striking out 18 and walking eight in 25 innings.
He has not pitched since June 28 due to a left triceps strain, so he will likely be on some sort of pitch count in his first outing back at the Major League level.
The Dodgers currently boast two of the hottest hitters in baseball as Cody Bellinger and Justin Turner are first and second in the National League in hitting, respectively, in the month of August.
Bellinger went 2-for-4 with a towering home run in Saturday’s game, extending his hit streak to 11 games. He is hitting .423 in August and now has 20 home runs on the year. Turner also extended a hitting streak of his own by going deep on Saturday, putting his at 12 games.
He is not far behind Bellinger with a .404 batting average in the month.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Brian Dozier
DH: Justin Turner
3B: Manny Machado
LF: Matt Kemp
1B: Cody Bellinger
CF: Kiké Hernandez
SS: Chris Taylor
RF: Yasiel Puig
C: Austin Barnes
Mariners lineup:
RF: Mitch Haniger
2B: Robinson Cano
DH: Nelson Cruz
3B: Kyle Seager
1B: Ryon Healy
LF: Cameron Maybin
SS: Dee Gordon
CF: Guillermo Heredia
C: Chris Hermann
