The Los Angeles Dodgers began the second half of the season with a win and look to keep their momentum with Clayton Kershaw taking the mound. He’ll look to contain a Brewers lineup that sees the return of Ryan Braun from the 10-day disabled list (back strain).
Braun is starting at first base and batting cleanup in the second of a three-game set at Miller Park. On the season he’s hitting .235/.283/.427 with 13 doubles, 10 home runs and 35 RBI. Braun has struggled in seven games during July, recording just three hits in 22 at-bats.
Meanwhile, the Dodgers are still without Justin Turner. He last appeared as a pinch-hitter on July 12 and has now been out of the lineup for five games because of an adductor injury.
Manager Dave Roberts suggested Turner would start in Sunday’s series finale, and maintained he’s still available to pinch-hit despite the time missed.
As for Kershaw, he starts on an extra day of rest. The three-time Cy Young Award winner is coming off throwing 108 pitches over 6.2 innings against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim; a game in which the Dodgers won but Kershaw did not factor into the decision.
Roberts was pleased to see Kershaw toss his second-highest number of pitches this season and is encouraged by the progress that’s been made since he came off the disabled list. Kershaw enters 3-4 with a 2.74 ERA, 3.18 FIP and 1.08 WHIP.
The Dodgers are 4-1 in his last five starts, and Kershaw is 4-0 lifetime at Miller Park.
Milwaukee counters with Chase Anderson, who pitched to a 1.65 ERA in his last five starts. However, run support has let him down, resulting in the right-hander going 1-1 during that stretch.
Overall, Anderson is 6-7 with a 3.78 ERA, 5.29 FIP and 1.67 WHIP this season. He’s yet to face the Dodgers in 2018.
Manny Machado is again starting at shortstop and batting second. This time he’s protected by Matt Kemp, with Max Muncy moving to the cleanup spot.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Joc Pederson
SS: Manny Machado
RF: Matt Kemp
3B: Max Muncy
C: Yasmani Grandal
CF: Chris Taylor
1B: Cody Bellinger
2B: Kiké Hernandez
P: Clayton Kershaw
Brewers lineup:
CF: Lorenzo Cain
LF: Christian Yelich
3B: Jesús Aguilar
1B: Ryan Braun
SS: Tyler Saladino
2B: Hernan Perez
RF: Keon Broxton
C: Erik Kratz
P: Chase Anderson
