The Los Angeles Dodgers begin a six-game road trip Tuesday against the reigning American League champion Cleveland Indians. The matchup is the Dodgers’ first of Interleague play this season. Los Angeles went 10-10 against the AL last year.
Tuesday marks the Dodgers’ first game in Cleveland since June 15, 2003. That day, current Dodgers manager Dave Roberts led off and went 1-for-4 with two runs scored, a walk and stolen base. Dodgers bullpen coach Josh Bard pinch-hit for the Indians and walked in the ninth inning of their 4-3 loss.
Clayton Kershaw takes the mound for his first career start at Progressive Field. He’ll now have pitched in every stadium except SunTrust Park, the Atlanta Braves’ new home ballpark that opened this season.
Kershaw enters 8-2 with a 2.20 ERA and 0.90 WHIP in 13 starts; the Dodgers are 11-2 in those games. He last faced the Indians during the 2008 season in just his sixth career start.
Kershaw is 12-4 and boasts the best Interleague ERA all-time at 2.22, among pitchers with at least 15 such starts.
He’s backed by a Dodgers bullpen that leads the National League with a 2.65 ERA, 1.07 WHIP (first in Majors as well) and 255 strikeouts. What’s more, the Dodgers’ 3.21 team ERA is best in baseball.
The Indians counter the three-time Cy Young Award winner with Trevor Bauer. After back-to-back strong seasons, the right-hander has struggled in 2017. He’s just 5-5 with a 6.10 ERA and 1.48 WHIP this year.
The UCLA product has been victimized by the long ball, surrendering at least one home run in eight of 12 starts; including multiple home runs in three outings. However, Bauer has not surrendered a home run in 12 innings over his past three starts.
Joc Pederson returned from the seven-day concussion disabled list, taking the place of Adrian Gonzalez. The veteran first baseman was put on the 10-day DL with lower back discomfort. Pederson went 3-for-9 with two home runs and four RBI over three games while on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City.
With Gonzalez unavailable and Pederson back in the lineup, Cody Bellinger shifts to first base and Chris Taylor is in left field.
Chase Utley is the Dodgers’ first designated hitter of the season. He’s batting .333/.436/.595 with four doubles, three triples, four home runs and 17 RBI in 28 games (24 starts) since May 10.
Dodgers lineup:
DH: Chase Utley
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Cody Bellinger
C: Yasmani Grandal
LF: Chris Taylor
2B: Logan Forsythe
CF: Joc Pederson
RF: Yasiel Puig
Indians lineup:
2B: Jason Kipnis
SS: Francisco Lindor
LF: Michael Brantley
1B: Carlos Santana 1B
DH: Edwin Encarnacion
3B: Jose Ramirez
CF: Austin Jackson
C: Roberto Perez
RF: Daniel Robertson
