After splitting a four-game set at AT&T Park, the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants meet Monday night for the fifth time in the past week. The series opener at Dodger Stadium is a pitching matchup between Clayton Kershaw and Johnny Cueto.
It’s the fifth time in as many games against the Giants that the Dodgers start a left-handed pitcher. The trend will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday, with Alex Wood and Julio Urias scheduled to take the mound.
Kershaw enters his sixth start of the season in the midst of a historic stretch at Dodger Stadium. In his his last 11 regular-season home games, Kershaw is 10-0 with a 0.65 ERA, 96 strikeouts and six walks. The streak dates back to May 1, 2016.
The 29-year-old owns a lifetime 1.98 ERA in 140 starts at Dodger Stadium. Kershaw takes the mound 4-1 this season, with a 2.29 ERA and 0.79 WHIP. A win Monday night will be his fourth straight.
When Kershaw last faced the Giants — April 25 at AT&T Park — he allowed just one run on six hits, and had seven strikeouts in seven innings. The left-hander was struck by a comebacker to start the bottom of the first inning and later suffered from a calf contusion and cramp.
Cueto’s last start came against the Dodgers, one day after Kershaw’s outing. The right-hander was tagged for three runs on seven hits over six innings. The long ball has been Cueto’s nemesis thus far, as he’s surrendered six home runs in 30 innings pitched across five starts.
Cueto was tagged for three home runs in his past two outings. Last season he gave up just 15 home runs, but is on pace to allow a career-high 31. While Cueto is 3-1 thus far, he holds a 5.01 ERA and 1.40 WHIP.
Kershaw and Cueto dueled once last season, with both pitchers going eight innings at AT&T Park. Justin Turner’s solo home run in the ninth inning was the difference in the Dodgers’ 3-2 victory. Kershaw struck out 13 without walking a batter, and was credited with the win.
Turner is in the midst of a career-best 16-game hitting streak, batting .433/.500/.583 with six doubles, one home run and nine RBI during that span. Overall this season, Turner is hitting .404/.465/.562, with a .444 wOBA and 179 wRC+.
He’s pacing the National League with 11 doubles, which is one off tying Boston’s Mitch Moreland for the Major League lead.
Andrew Toles 5-for-13 with one double, two home runs and four RBI since hitting a go-ahead single against the Giants in the 10th inning on April 27.
The Dodgers are riding a four-game winning streak and face a Giants team that’s still without Brandon Crawford (groin), Jarett Parker (shoulder) and Denard Span (shoulder). More long-term injuries affecting the Giants are Madison Bumgarner (shoulder/ribs) and Will Smith (Tommy John).
Dodgers lineup:
CF: Andrew Toles
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
C: Yasmani Grandal
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
LF: Cody Bellinger
RF: Yasiel Puig
2B: Chase Utley
P: Clayton Kershaw
Giants lineup:
LF: Gorkys Hernandez
3B: Christian Arroyo
RF: Hunter Pence
C: Buster Posey
1B: Michael Morse
SS: Eduardo Nuñez
2B: Joe Panik
CF: Drew Stubbs
P: Johnny Cueto P
