The Los Angeles Dodgers look to avoid being swept by the Cincinnati Reds in the series finale following back-to-back walk-off losses at Great American Ballpark.
The Dodgers’ offense opened each of the first two games swinging well, putting up a combined 14 runs from innings one through four. However, L.A. has not scored from the fifth through ninth, while their bullpen has given up seven runs between the two games.
As the Dodgers are looking to avoid being swept and snap a four-game losing streak, their best chance to right the ship in Clayton Kershaw is on the mound. The left-hander is coming off a terrific outing where he pitched seven innings, allowing just two runs against a high-powered New York Yankees offense.
Kershaw hit a rough patch in his two starts prior, allowing eight runs over 8.2 innings, but his season totals are still strong overall. The 35-year-old has pitched 69.1 innings with a 3.25 ERA and 1.10 WHIP with 84 strikeouts.
Kershaw additionally is 4-0 with a 1.06 ERA and has 36 strikeouts against just three walks in his last five starts against the Reds.
The Reds counter with Graham Ashcraft, who has elite stuff but has yet to put all his talent together to become an effective pitcher. The right-hander has a cutter that reaches the triple digits, along with a slider that sits in the low 90s, but he does not have another effective pitch he can rely.
That has led to the 25-year-old posting a 6.64 ERA and a 1.60 WHIP with only 49 strikeouts across 62.1 innings this season. He has not fared much better in his career either, pitching to a 5.54 ERA in 167.1 innings.
In his last outing, Ashcraft gave up 10 earned runs in just four innings, and he also allowed seven earned to the St. Louis Cardinals on May 23.
Ashcraft has shown some occasional flashes of brilliance because of his elite two-pitch mix, but he still sits in the 25th percentile of whiff% and expected ERA.
With an early game that followed playing at night, Austin Barnes is behind the plate to catch Kershaw, giving Will Smith the day off. In addition, Miguel Rojas is out of the lineup due to a stiff neck. Chris Taylor thus makes the start at shortstop.
Prior to the game the Dodgers added Tayler Scott to their bullpen and put Noah Syndergaard on the 15-day injured list due to a blister on his right index finger.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
1B: Freddie Freeman
DH: J.D. Martinez
3B: Max Muncy
LF: David Peralta
2B: Miguel Vargas
SS: Chris Taylor
CF: James Outman
C: Austin Barnes
Reds lineup
1B: Kevin Newman
SS: Matt McLain
2B: Jonathan India
3B: Elly De La Cruz
LF: Spencer Steer
DH: Tyler Stephenson
RF: TJ Hopkins
CF: Jose Barrero
C: Curt Casali
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