Even with Saturday’s loss, the Los Angeles Dodgers are 9-4 during the month of July and have an opportunity to wrap up the annual Freeway Series by taking two of three from the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
A win would also send the Dodgers into the All-Star break on a positive note in what’s their final game at Dodger Stadium until July 30. They look to do so with ace Clayton Kershaw on the mound after a change in their rotation pushed him back one day.
Kershaw enters 3-4 with a 2.61 ERA, 2.99 FIP and 1.04 WHIP in 12 starts this season. He’s coming off six scoreless innings against the San Diego Padres and might be hitting his stride after a second stint on the 10-day disabled list.
Overall in his career, Kershaw is 6-2 with a 2.42 ERA in 10 starts. He did not pitch in any of the three Freeway Series games in Anaheim last week.
Anaheim counters with Deck McGuire, who starts in place of the injured Garrett Richards. McGuire’s last start coincidentally came against the Dodgers, when he threw three scoreless innings complete with six strikeouts.
Including time with the Toronto Blue Jays, the right-hander is 0-1 with a 6.10 ERA, 7.44 FIP and 1.50 WHIP in nine games (two starts). McGuire faces a Dodgers lineup that again does not include Justin Turner.
He suffered an adductor injury during his pinch-hit appearance last Thursday and hasn’t been used since. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts ruled out Turner starting in any Freeway Series game, and additionally hopes to avoid using him as a pinch-hitter.
Angels lineup:
3B: David Fletcher
SS: Andrelton Simmons
CF: Mike Trout
LF: Justin Upton
2B: Ian Kinsler
1B: Jefry Marte
RF: Kole Calhoun
C: Martin Maldonado
P: Derek McGuire
Dodgers:
LF: Joc Pederson
3B: Max Muncy
RF: Matt Kemp
1B: Cody Bellinger
C: Yasmani Grandal
CF: Andrew Toles
SS: Chris Taylor
2B: Kiké Hernandez
P: Clayton Kershaw
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