The Los Angeles Dodgers offense exploded for 21 hits and 17 runs to open up their series with a victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.
Hopefully, they save some hits for Tuesday as ace Clayton Kershaw takes the mound against Pirates right-hander Ivan Nova.
Kershaw, who is still making his way back from a back injury, looked really good in his last start against the Chicago Cubs. He was still on a pitch limit, so he only went five innings, giving up just four hits and one run while striking six without allowing a walk.
More importantly than results though, he came out of the start feeling healthy and his velocity was a tick up from where it had been in his previous start. He should be able to extend his pitch limit to around six innings and 90 pitches against Pittsburgh.
Overall in 10 starts this season, Kershaw holds a 1-4 record to go along with a 2.84 ERA, 3.13 FIP and 1.14 WHIP while striking out 63 and walking 12 in 57 innings. In 11 career starts against Pittsburgh, Kershaw is 2-3 with a 3.18 ERA and 1.13 WHIP.
Nova has had an up-and-down season for the Pirates so far, going 4-5 with a 4.02 ERA, 3.96 FIP and 1.20 WHIP in 15 starts. In 87.1 innings, he has 68 strikeouts and 15 walks. He has struggled on the road, posting a 5.03 ERA in nine starts compared to 2.77 in six starts at home.
He has only faced the Dodgers twice in his career but has found success, yielding a 2.31 ERA and 1.54 WHIP in 11.2 innings.
The Dodgers offense is clicking on all cylinders right now after Monday night’s performance though. No one is hotter than Matt Kemp, who has eight hits in his last eight plate appearances. The Major League record in 12 straight hits, while the Dodgers record is 10.
Max Muncy is also swinging the bat well for Los Angeles, homering again on Monday. He leads the team with 18 home runs in just 62 games to go along with a .271/.414/.613 slashline.
Dodgers lineup:
LF: Joc Pederson
2B: Max Muncy
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Cody Bellinger
RF: Matt Kemp
C: Yasmani Grandal
SS: Chris Taylor
CF: Kiké Hernandez
P: Clayton Kershaw
Pirates lineup:
CF: Austin Meadows
2B: Josh Harrison
RF: Gregory Polanco
C: Elias Diaz
3B: David Freese
1B: Josh Bell
LF: Corey Dickerson
SS: Jordy Mercer
P: Ivan Nova
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