After taking two of three from the Boston Red Sox in a 2018 World Series rematch at Fenway Park, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue with their road trip by beginning a four-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Clayton Kershaw gets the start in the series opener at Citizens Bank Park, and he will be opposed by right-hander Zach Eflin, who the Dodgers traded to Philadelphia for Jimmy Rollins a few years ago.
In 15 starts this season, Kershaw is 7-2 with a 3.09 ERA, 3.59 FIP and 1.05 WHIP while striking out 91 and walking 16 in 99 innings. He has pitched well against the Phillies in his career, going 3-5 with a 2.83 ERA and 1.06 WHIP in 14 career starts.
Kershaw hasn’t been quite as good at Citizens Bank Park, as in seven starts there, he has a 4.01 ERA. While Kershaw hasn’t quite been his usual dominant self this season, he has still been a quality starter and logged at least six innings and given up four earned runs or fewer in every outing this year.
Eflin has been one of the Phillies’ best starters this season. He comes in with a 7-8 record to go along with a 3.78 ERA, 4.66 FIP and 1.30 WHIP in 17 starts while striking out 83 and walking 26 in 100 innings.
While Eflin never played a single game for the Dodgers, he still has not fared well against his former team. In four career starts against Los Angeles, he is 0-2 with a 9.18 ERA and 1.74 WHIP.
What Eflin does have going for him though is that he has been much better at home than on the road this season. He has pitched to a 3.04 ERA in seven starts at Citizens Bank Park compared to 4.44 starts away from Philadelphia.
It’s no secret that the Dodgers showed interest in signing Bryce Harper before he inked a record-breaking 13-year contract with the Phillies. He has not lived up to that so far this season though, hitting .251/.366/.461 with 16 home runs and 62 RBI in 93 games.
The Dodgers have gotten as much or more production from all three of their left-handed outfielders in Cody Bellinger, Joc Pederson and Alex Verdugo. They are all in the lineup against the right-handed Eflin as A.J. Pollock gets a night off after returning from the injured list and playing all three games in the Red Sox series.
Pederson is making his first start since the All-Star break, manning left field and batting leadoff.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Joc Pederson LF
CF: Alex Verdugo
3B: Justin Turner
RF: Cody Bellinger
1B: Max Muncy
SS: Corey Seager
2B: Kiké Hernandez
C: Austin Barnes
P: Clayton Kershaw
Phillies lineup:
CF: Scott Kingery
SS: Jean Segura
RF: Bryce Harper
1B: Rhys Hoskins
C: J.T. Realmuto
LF: Jay Bruce
3B: Maikel Franco
2B: Cesar Hernandez
P: Zach Eflin
