While the Los Angeles Dodgers have repeatedly gone to the well that is Clayton Kershaw this season, they enter Monday’s game perhaps in their greatest state of need. Sure, Kershaw was relied upon to stop losing streaks, but he now takes the mound with the Dodgers fresh off a 17-inning marathon game.
In response to using eight relievers against the San Diego Padres, the Dodgers recalled Luis Avilan and Mike Bolsinger from Triple-A Oklahoma City. Chin-Hui Tsao was placed on the disabled list, and Ross Stripling optioned to OKC in corresponding moves.
Bolsinger is expected to start in place of Stripling on Tuesday. Meanwhile, Avilan, Pedro Baez, Chris Hatcher and Kenley Jansen presumably make up the group of relievers who are available Monday night.
But, if Kershaw’s outing is anything like his previous starts, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts may not need to make any visits to the mound. Kershaw has thrown at least seven innings in each of his nine starts this season.
Two of his past three outings at Dodger Stadium were complete-game shutouts. His streak of such home outings ended on May 17 when Kershaw only managed to throw eight innings. The Dodgers’ ace enters with a streak of six consecutive starts with 10 strikeouts or more.
That’s good for a franchise record and only two shy of tying the Major League record set by Pedro Martinez (1999) and Chris Sale (2015). Kershaw can tie Randy Johnson’s National League record (2001) of seven consecutive starts with at least 10 strikeouts should he hit double digits against the Cincinnati Reds.
Kershaw takes the mound with a 6-1 record, 1.67 ERA, 1.33 FIP, 0.70 WHIP and an astonishing 88 strikeouts to four walks. What’s more, he’s been particularly dominant in May, as he’s 4-0 with a 0.82 ERA and 48 strikeouts in four starts this month.
Cincinnati counters with young left-hander Brandon Finnegan. He’s 1-2 with a 4.44 ERA, 5.45 FIP and 1.40 WHIP in nine starts this season. Finnegan is 1-1 with a 3.27 ERA and 1.41 WHIP in four road starts.
He faces a Dodgers lineup that has seven starters who played all 17 innings against the Padres: A.J. Ellis, Adrian Gonzalez, Howie Kendrick, Joc Pederson, Yasiel Puig, Corey Seager and Chase Utley.
Kendrick, who has enjoyed a hot month of May, hit his first home run of the season and finished a triple shy of the cycle. Puig connected on a go-ahead single in the 17th inning, Utley had three hits and tied a Los Angeles franchise record with 13 assists.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Kiké Hernandez
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
2B: Howie Kendrick
CF: Trayce Thompson
SS: Corey Seager
RF: Yasiel Puig
C: A.J. Ellis
P: Clayton Kershaw
Reds lineup:
SS: Zack Cozart
CF: Billy Hamilton
1B: Joey Votto
2B: Brandon Phillips
RF: Jay Bruce
LF: Adam Duvall
3B: Jordan Pacheco
C: Tucker Barnhart
P: Brandon Finnegan
