After splitting four games with the San Francisco Giants in their first series of the 2020 season, the Los Angeles Dodgers now head to Texas for a highly-anticipated two-game series against the Houston Astros that starts Tuesday.
The Dodgers weren’t originally scheduled to play the Astros this season, although with the season shortened to 60 games and travel being limited, they will play them four times; two in each ballpark, in what is a rematch of the 2017 World Series.
Tuesday’s pitching matchup features two young pitchers in Walker Buehler and Framber Valdez in what will be their respective 2020 debuts. Wednesday was scheduled to be the big duel between Clayton Kershaw and Justin Verlander, although that will no longer be the case.
Clayton Kershaw was played on the 10-day injured list just before his scheduled start on Opening Day due to back stiffness. While he is making progress in his recovery, he is not eligible to return in time to take the mound at Minute Maid Park.
Verlander is also dealing with an injury as it was reported on Sunday afternoon that he will miss the remainder of the season with an elbow injury. Verlander took to Twitter himself to refute that report, although he will be placed on the IL and miss his start against the Dodgers:
The report that I’m currently missing the rest of the season is not accurate. There is a forearm strain… I’m hopeful that with some rest it will heal and I’ll be able to return soon. Thank you for all the well wishes. 🙏🏻
— Justin Verlander (@JustinVerlander) July 26, 2020
Verlander is coming off a Cy Young season in which he went 21-6 with a 2.58 ERA, 3.27 FIP and 0.80 WHIP with 300 strikeouts and 42 walks in 223 innings. He tossed six innings of two-run ball, striking out seven and earning a victory over the Seattle Mariners in his first start of the 2020 season.
A forearm strain could very well have to do with his elbow as well, so it will be interesting to see just how serious Verlander’s injury is and how much time he ultimately will miss.
May again starting in place of Kershaw
When Kershaw was scratched from his Opening Day start just hours ahead of first pitch, Dodgers rookie Dustin May filled in admirably by pitching 4.1 innings while allowing seven hits and a run with four strikeouts and no walks in a win over the Giants.
He will remain in the rotation for the time being and make another start against the Astros on Wednesday.
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