Clayton Kershaw went 5-3 in 11 games last season, excluding the postseason, when the Los Angeles Dodgers were coming off a loss. His first opportunity to right the ship this season comes Saturday against the Colorado Rockies, who at 4-1 sit along the Arizona Diamondbacks atop the National League West standings.
Beyond the scales being titled in the Dodgers’ favor by simple virtue of Kershaw taking the mound, he’s been thoroughly dominant against the Rockies dating back to 2013, with the Dodgers winning each of his 11 starts during the stretch.
What’s more, Kershaw is 5-0 with a 3.09 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 46.2 innings in his last seven starts at Coors Field. Since last losing to the Rockies on July 12, 2013, he’s 10-0 with a 2.24 ERA. The Dodgers haven’t lost at Coors Field in a Kershaw start since May 2, 2012.
If aid is needed, the three-time Cy Young Award will be backed by a Dodgers bullpen that has thrown 11.1 consecutive scoreless innings. The streak began in the ninth inning of Tuesday’s loss to the San Diego Padres.
From an offensive perspective, Justin Turner looks to continue with his hot start to the season. Turner is batting .382/.460/.566 in 55 career games against the Rockies, which is his highest clip against any National League opponent.
However, Turner and the Dodgers face a formidable challenge in Jon Gray. The right-hander went 2-2 with a 4.15 ERA in five starts against the Dodgers this season. But three of those came at home, with the Rockies winning each contest.
Gray was knocked around at Coors Field by the Dodgers in his first start of the season, allowing five runs on seven hits, including two home runs, in five innings. He did collect 10 strikeouts in the no-decision.
Gray then went 2-0, threw a combined 11 scoreless innings and had 14 strikeouts in two home starts against Los Angeles last August. The 25-year-old turned in two scoreless innings on Feb. 27 in what was his first Cactus League start of the year.
Chase Utley bats eighth and starts at second base in place of Logan Forsythe, who went 0-for-4 with three strikeouts in Friday’s loss. Forsythe is mired in an 0-for-12 skid with eight strikeouts in his past three games. This marks the first game he’s not in the lineup.
The only change in the Rockies starting eighth from Friday’s game is Gerardo Parra taking over in right field for Carlos Gonzalez. Parra has 10 hits, including three doubles and one triple, in 30 career at-bats against Kershaw.
Nolan Arenado is batting a lifetime .303/.343/.485 with three doubles, one home run and three RBI off the Dodgers ace.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Andrew Toles
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
CF: Joc Pederson
C: Yasmani Grandal
RF: Yasiel Puig
2B: Chase Utley
P: Clayton Kershaw
Rockies lineup:
CF: Charlie Blackmon
2B: DJ LeMahieu
3B: Nolan Arenado
SS: Trevor Story
1B: Mark Reynolds
LF: Gerardo Parra
RF: Stephen Cardullo
C: Dustin Garneau
P: Jon Gray
