The Los Angeles Dodgers seven-game road trip did not get off to the start they had hoped for as they’ve dropped the first two of a four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Luckily for the Dodgers, they have the key to ending any losing streak on the mound in three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw. The left-hander is 11-1 with a 1.57 ERA, 1.59 FIP and 0.67 WHIP on the season to go along with 141 strikeouts and seven walks.
The Dodgers are 14-1 in games he has started, compared to 27-34 in all other games. In seven road starts this season, Kershaw is 4-0 with a 1.87 ERA. In 10 career starts against Pittsburgh he’s 2-2 with a 2.90 ERA.
Kershaw is opposed by right-hander Chad Kuhl, who is making his Major League debut. The 2013 ninth-round draft pick is replacing former Dodger Juan Nicasio, who was moved to the Pirates’ bullpen.
Kuhl went 6-2 with a 2.58 ERA and 1.19 WHIP in 14 starts with Triple-A Indianapolis. He had 59 strikeouts to 16 walks over 76.2 innings of work. He began the season by allowing two or fewer runs in each of his first 10 starts.
Dodgers first baseman Adrian Gonzalez gets the night off Sunday, despite a right-hander being on the mound for the Pirates. The veteran has been in a bit of a slump, batting just .183/.244/.268 with one home run and six RBIs during the month of June.
Scott Van Slyke gets a rare start against a right-handed pitcher in Gonzalez’s place. Since returning from a back injury earlier this month, Van Slyke is 6-for-26 (.231) with one home run and three RBIs.
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said that Gonzalez will also take Monday’s game off. Meanwhile, Yasiel Puig looks to build on his 7-for-15 mark in four games since returning from the disabled list.
Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen is 9-for-24 with a home run in his career against Kershaw. The former MVP hit two home runs in Saturday’s 6-1 victory. Catcher Chris Stewart has also enojoyed success against Kershaw, going 7-for-14.
Dodgers lineup:
2B: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
LF: Howie Kendrick
CF: Joc Pederson
RF: Yasiel Puig
C: Yasmani Grandal
1B: Scott Van Slyke
P: Clayton Kershaw
Pirates lineup:
SS: Jordy Mercer
1B: David Freese
CF: Andrew McCutchen
3B: Jung Ho Kang
LF: Starling Marte
2B: Josh Harrison
C: Chris Stewart
RF: Sean Rodriguez
P: Chad Kuhl
