The Los Angeles Dodgers have reached the end of what originally began as a six-game road trip needing a win to avoid going winless in their five games. Considering their luck thus far, one might shudder to think what would’ve come of Friday’s game not being postponed.
At 2-6, the Dodgers are off to their worst start to a season since going 1-7 through the first eight games in 1976. Moreover, the club is 0-4 in one-run games and are on a four-game losing streak.
But if there’s a silver lining heading into Sunday’s series finale against the San Francisco Giants, the Dodgers can take comfort in sending Clayton Kershaw to the hill. Of course, he’s 0-2 thus far, marking the first time he’s been defeated in his first two starts in a season.
One of those losses was a tough-luck outing in which Joe Panik’s solo home run was enough for the Giants in their 1-0 victory at Dodger Stadium on Opening Day. Kershaw wasn’t quite as sharp against the Arizona Diamondbacks but still pitched well enough to earn a win.
The left-handed ace has been stellar in his career against the Giants, going going 22-10 with a 1.60 ERA in 42 games (41 starts). Included in that is a 13-4 mark and 1.30 ERA in 21 games (20 starts) at AT&T Park. Kershaw was a perfect 3-0 with a minuscule 0.90 ERA at the Giants’ home ballpark last season.
He’s opposed by Ty Blach, making it a rematch of Opening Day. Blach has enjoyed success against the Dodgers, as he’s 3-2 with a 1.96 ERA in eight games (five starts).
The young lefty held them to just three hits — two to Kershaw — over five shutout innings back on March 29. Blach was last roughed up by the Seattle Mariners, however, allowing six runs on 10 hits in just 4.1 innings.
Los Angeles has played 15- and 14-inning games within the past week, and in Saturday’s loss used 24 players from their active roster. Kershaw pinch-hit in the 14th inning and struck out swinging.
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Chris Taylor
SS: Corey Seager
RF: Yasiel Puig
1B: Kiké Hernández
C: Yasmani Grandal
LF: Matt Kemp
3B: Logan Forsythe
2B: Austin Barnes
P: Clayton Kershaw
Giants lineup:
CF: Austin Jackson
2B: Joe Panik
RF: Andrew McCutchen
C: Nick Hundley
3B: Evan Longoria
1B: Pablo Sandoval
LF: Hunter Pence
SS: Kelby Tomlinson
P: Ty Blach
