The Los Angeles Dodgers gutted out a come-from-behind-extra-innings-win on Wednesday night against the Atlanta Braves, sparked by Chase Utley in a 10th-inning rally. Now Los Angeles has the luxury of handing the ball to their ace in the matinee affair and rubber match of the three-game series.
For Clayton Kershaw, it’s his first time pitching at Turner Field since he allowed one run and had 12 strikeouts over seven innings in Game 1 of the 2013 National League Championship Series. It’s also the final time Kershaw and the Dodgers will step foot in the famed stadium as the Braves are moving to SunTrust Park in 2017.
Kershaw is 2-0 this season with a 1.64 ERA, 2.69 FIP, 0.55 WHIP and is averaging 8.2 strikeouts per nine innings in three starts. He’s gone at least seven innings through each of the outings, which is what the southpaw tossed against the San Francisco Giants on April 15.
Kershaw’s 22 innings pitched has him tied for first in the National League with Chicago Cubs’ righty Jake Arrieta; the duo is tied for third overall. For his career, Kershaw is 2-0 with a 1.79 ERA, 0.95 WHIP and has 54 strikeouts over 45.1 innings pitched against the Braves in six starts.
Aside from the 2013 postseason outing, Kershaw has only started one other time at Turner Field — in 2011. He threw seven innings, allowing eight hits, three runs (two earned) and had 10 strikeouts in a no-decision of a game the Dodgers lost by one run.
Kershaw’s 1.79 career ERA against the Braves is his third-best mark against an NL opponent. Atlanta sends Matt Wisler to mound two days later than initially expected. Wisler threw one inning of relief on Sunday, which led to him getting scratched in the series opener.
The young righty is 0-1 with a 4.61 ERA, 5.10 FIP and 0.95 WHIP in three games (two starts) this season. Wisler went at least six innings in both starts, allowing a combined seven runs in the outings.
He’s faced the Dodgers once in his career — last season in a home start — allowing four runs on eight hits over six innings pitched in a win. The start was Wisler’s sixth of his Major League career.
As expected, A.J. Ellis starts behind the plate after Yasmani Grandal caught the past four games. Justin Turner also gets the afternoon off, with Charlie Culberson starting at third base. Joc Pederson, who is celebrating his 24th birthday, bats cleanup for the first time in his Major League career.
The Dodgers did some shuffling in their bullpen, recalling Luis Avilan from Triple-A Oklahoma City and placing Louis Coleman on the bereavement list. It’s believed Pedro Baez, who was hit in the back of a head by an Adam Liberatore warmup toss on Wednesday, is available.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
CF: Joc Pederson
RF: Trayce Thompson
LF: Kiké Hernandez
C: A.J. Ellis
3B: Charlie Culberson
P: Clayton Kershaw
Braves lineup:
SS: Erick Aybar
2B: Daniel Castro
1B: Freddie Freeman
3B: Adonis Garcia
C: Tyler Flowers
RF: Jeff Francoeur
LF: Drew Stubbs
CF: Mallex Smith
P: Matt Wisler
