Editorials

Preview: Clayton Kershaw Faces Nemesis, Yasiel Puig Returns To Lineup

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

The Los Angeles Dodgers attempt to de-throne a team they have beaten only once this season, the St. Louis Cardinals. After dropping the first two games of the series, the Dodgers hope to turn their luck around by sending Clayton Kershaw out to the mound. Overall the Dodgers have lost three consecutive games.

Kershaw starts with a two-game winning streak under his belt as well as 90 strikeouts. If the left-hander can strike out 10 batters Saturday, he will be the second player in the Majors, behind Corey Kluber, to reach 100 strikeouts this season.



While it won’t atone for the postseason nightmares the Cardinals have given him, Kershaw can pick up a win against in his first outing against them since Game 4 of the 2014 National League Division Series. Kershaw is 5-5 with a 3.46 ERA in 14 starts against St. Louis, including one shutout back in May of 2012.

When facing the Cardinals at Dodger Stadium, the reigning National League MVP is 3-2 with a 3.25 ERA in seven career starts. Kershaw threw seven scoreless innings the last time he faced the Cardinals at home — June 29, 2014.

Jaime Garcia makes just his fourth start of the season after going 1-2 in his previous three starts. Although his record doesn’t necessarily reflect it, Garcia has had a quality start in all three of his outings. In his career against the Dodgers, the right-hander is 2-1 with a 5.31 ERA.

The Dodgers received a big boost Saturday as Yasiel Puig was activated from the disabled list. Puig is fresh off playing two rehab assignment games with High-A Rancho Cucamonga and bats third. To clear room for Puig on the active roster Scott Schebler was optioned back to Triple-A one day after being recalled.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said he wanted to give Adrian Gonzalez a needed game off, which correlates to Justin Turner starting at second base. Additionally, Mattingly said Howie Kendrick, who is battling a stiff right knee, is available after missing the last two games. Kiké Hernandez makes another start at second base.

Dodgers Lineup

CF: Joc Pederson

LF: Chris Heisey

RF: Yasiel Puig

1B: Justin Turner

2B: Kiké Hernandez

SS: Jimmy Rollins

3B: Alberto Callaspo

C: A.J. Ellis

P: Clayton Kershaw

Cardinals Lineup:

CF: Peter Bourjos

3B: Matt Carpenter

LF: Matt Holliday

SS: Jhonny Peralta

RF: Randal Grichuk

1B: Mark Reynolds

C: Yadier Molina

2B: Pete Kozma

P: Jaime Garcia

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Scott Schebler On MLB Debut

Staff Writer

Staff Writer features content written by our site editors along with our staff of contributing writers. Thank you for your readership.

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