Tag Archives: Clayton Kershaw

Oct 09

NLDS Opening Games, 2015

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First game: Cubs at Cardinals, 3:30PM PT, TV: TBS

The Cubs and Cardinals have been rivals for decades, but this is the first time they’ll face one another in the postseason. As if that weren’t enough, the opposing pitchers once played together for the Red Sox.

John Lester (11-12, 3.34 ERA) starts for the Cubs, while John Lackey (13-10, 2.77 ERA) starts for the Cardinals. Lackey leads all active pitchers in two playoff categories: today will make his 19th playoff start and he’s already thrown 117 postseason innings. Lester has a 6-4 record with a 2.57 ERA in the postseason himself.

Further game notes here.

Second game: Mets at Dodgers, 6:30PM PT, TV: TBS

LHP Clayton Kershaw (16-7, 2.13 ERA) starts for the Dodgers. RHP Jacob deGrom (14-8, 2.54 ERA) starts for the Mets. Kershaw’s only blemish in his brilliant career is his 1-5 record and 5.12 ERA in the postseason. This will be deGrom’s first playoff appearance. He faced the Dodgers once this season and gave up two hits over 7 2/3 innings.

The Mets added Yoenis Cespedes, Juan Uribe and Kelly Johnson in mid-season and got David Wright back as well. “It’s a completely different lineup, not just Cespedes,” Kershaw said. “…a completely different team. Obviously, a lot better than what we faced in July.”

Dodgers’ playoff roster:

Lineup when available.

Oct 04

Game 162, 2015

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Padres at Dodgers, 12:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSSD. The game is available to stream free out of market on MLB.TV.

Clayton Kershaw makes his 33rd start for the Dodgers this season hunting for 300 strikeouts (he needs six) and his 17th win. He’s also put up an ERA of 2.16. The Padres’ lefty Frank Garces will make his first major league start but only go one inning. San Diego wants to look at several relievers one last time to see who they might want to keep around next season.

Don Mattingly says Puig won’t start today but will either pinch-hit or be part of a double-switch. I assume that’s an attempt to save his hamstrings from too much effort too soon.

Playoff talk can continue in the Pre-postseason thread below.

Lineup when available.

Sep 29

Game 157, 2015

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Dodgers at Giants, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, CSN-BA

It’s Clayton Kershaw’s turn to try to advance the Dodgers into the postseason and turn out the lights on the Giants’ hopes of getting there. He’s 15-7 on the year with a 2.25 ERA, 1-2 with a 2.76 ERA against the Giants. He and his teammates will face Madison Bumgarner, who’s 18-8 with a 2.88 ERA, 2-1 with a 1.63 ERA against the Dodgers this season. Both of these pitchers have been excellent since the All Star break: Kershaw’s gone 9-1 with a 1.48 since then, while Bumgarner has been almost as good, going 9-3 with a 2.31 ERA. He’s also thrown three complete games in that span.

There are some other games of consequence being played today and tonight as well.

Lineup when available.

Sep 24

Game 152, 2015

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Diamondbacks at Dodgers, 12:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FS-A

This is another battle of lefthanders. Clayton Kershaw has won nine of his last ten starts with a 1.17 ERA during that stretch. He’s 14-7 with a 2.18 ERA overall. He’s only pitched against the D-Backs once this season, back on April 11, and they got five runs off him in 6 1/3 innings. His opponent will be Patrick Corbin, who’s 6-4 with a 2.99 ERA. He lost to the Dodgers on September 13, giving up eight hits and two runs in six innings. That was the Greinke game in which Kenley Jansen gave up a 3-run HR to Saltalamacchia in the ninth with two outs, making it a lot closer game than it had been.

Lineup when available.

Sep 19

Game 147, 2015

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Pirates at Dodgers, 6:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA

The Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw (14-6, 2.12 ERA) pitches tonight against the Pirates’ Francisco Liriano (10-7, 3.45 ERA). Kershaw has an unusual streak going: in each of his last seven starts he’s given up no more than one run. He’s going for his tenth straight win tonight. The left-handed Liriano had a lousy outing last time he pitched, but he’s 3-0 lifetime against the Dodgers. Two guys who’ve had success against him in the past are Heisey (.333 in 15 ABs) and Kendrick (.438 in 16 ABs).

Lineup when available.

Sep 14

Game 143, 2015

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Rockies at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA

Kershaw v. Gray. One’s 13-6 with a 2.15 ERA, the other is 0-0 with a 5.17 ERA. His team is 1-6 in his seven starts since he was called up. Looks like a walkover, right? No bets. Kershaw could have an off night, and the Rockies have some hot hitters in Nolan Arenado and Carlos Gonzalez.

Here’s a sign:

The Rockies are 7-26 against left-handed starters and are expected to face three lefties in Los Angeles: Kershaw, Brett Anderson and Alex Wood.

Lineup:

Sep 08

Game 138, 2015

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Dodgers at Angels, 7:05PM PT, TV: SPNLA, FSW

Kershaw versus Heaney. The prime-time pitcher versus the rookie. Heaney, briefly a Dodger last winter, is 6-2 with a 3.18 ERA. Kershaw is 12-6 with a 2.18 ERA.

Kershaw will want to be wary of Pujols, who is hitting .440 off the Dodgers’ ace and has a .563 on-base percentage, the third-highest mark by anyone with at least 10 at-bats against him.

Lineup when available.

Load up with right-handed hitters!

Sep 02

Game 132, 2015

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Giants at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, CSN-BA

Can the Dodgers sweep? You gotta like their chances with Clayton Kershaw (11-6, 2.24 ERA, and did you know he’s just gone two straight months with a sub-2.00 ERA?) going against mid-season acquisition Mike Leake (9-6, 3.53 ERA). Leake’s been no slouch since coming over from the Reds, giving up seven runs in 18 2/3 innings with the Giants. He’s got no wins to show for it, though.

This will be the last series between the two teams until a four-game set to end the season starting September 28.

Lineup:

Aug 28

Game 127, 2015

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Cubs at Dodgers, 7:10PM PT, TV: SPNLA, MLBN

Clayton Kershaw (10-6, 2.29 ERA) looks to get a win after two straight starts in which the bullpen blew leads he’d handed to it. The Cubbies send Jason Hammel (7-5, 3.35 ERA) out to do battle with him.

Kershaw lost his only previous start against the Cubs this season on June 22, 4-2. He gave up two home runs and the Dodgers, who also had two dingers, couldn’t get to the Cubs’ bullpen, which came in early and gave up only one run in seven innings.

Lineup when available.

Puig to the DL with right hamstring strain.

For scoreboard watchers: Cardinals at Giants, 7:15PM PT

Aug 23

Game 123, 2015

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Dodgers at Astros, 11:10AM PT, TV: SPNLA, TBS

It will be Clayton Kershaw (10-6, 2.34 ERA) going against Lance McCullers (5-4, 3.17 ERA). McCullers has spent the last two weeks in AA ball at Corpus Christi in an attempt to limit his innings in his first year in the big leagues. I guess it worked: he only threw three innings there in those two weeks. In his last big league start he went 1/3 of an inning and gave up seven hits and six earned runs.

Lineup when available.