The Los Angeles Dodgers have hit a bit of a rough patch, dropping three consecutive games for the first time since August 2019 and back-to-back series. The club looks to get back on track and avoid being swept for the first time this season when they host the Cincinnati Reds in Wednesday’s finale at Dodger Stadium.
Having played the role of stopper so many times before, Clayton Kershaw makes his sixth start of the season. He enters with a 3-2 record, 2.56 ERA, 2.73 FIP and 0.95 FIP in 31.2 innings pitched.
Kershaw received a tough-luck loss his last time out on the mound against the San Diego Padres, allowing three runs on five hits with seven strikeouts in seven innings of work.
The left-hander owns a 3-2 record, 2.54 ERA and 0.99 WHIP with 84 strikeouts in 78 innings against the Reds dating back to the 2009 season (11 starts).
Kershaw is opposed by Sonny Gray, who has struggled in two starts thus far. He’s 0-1 with a 7.88 ERA, 5.20 FIP and 2.13 WHIP in eight innings to begin his 2021 campaign.
Gray did not fare well in his last start against the St. Louis Cardinals, allowing five runs, six hits and three walks in just 3.2 innings pitched.
The right-hander has found success against L.A. in the past, pitching to a 1.80 ERA and 0.53 WHIP with 18 strikeouts over 15 career frames (two starts).
The Dodgers lineup includes AJ Pollock for the first time since Sunday. “AJ had a little kind of, I don’t know if was a bout with food poisoning or a little 24-hour stomach bug,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said before Tuesday’s loss.
“Was down [Monday] trying to rehydrate, body obviously wasn’t in a good place, unavailable. Today he’s back, trying to get his strength back, so we just felt the best course of action was to let him get his strength back, break a sweat, be ready to come in and take an at-bat or play defense tonight and be in the lineup [Wednesday].”
The Dodgers welcomed back Victor Gonzalez from the COVID-related injured list and optioned DJ Peters to their alternate training site.
Dodgers lineup
CF: Mookie Betts
SS: Gavin Lux
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Max Muncy
2B: Chris Taylor
LF: AJ Pollock
RF: Luke Raley
C: Austin Barnes
P: Clayton Kershaw
Reds lineup
CF: Nick Senzel
LF: Jesse Winker
RF: Nick Castellanos
1B: Joey Votto
SS: Eugenio Suárez
3B: Mike Moustakas
C: Tyler Stephenson
2B: Kyle Farmer
P: Sonny Gray
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