July 31, 2024; San Diego, California, USA; Los Angeles Dodgers beginning pitcher Clayton Kershaw (22 years previous) pitches in the course of the first inning of the sport in opposition to the San Diego Padres at Petco Park. Obligatory Credit score: David Frerker-USA TODAY Sports activities Los Angeles Dodgers veteran Clayton Kershaw will as soon as once more attempt to discover his greatest type Tuesday in opposition to the visiting Philadelphia Phillies.
Kershaw has made two begins since coming back from offseason shoulder surgical procedure. He allowed two runs in 4 innings in opposition to the San Francisco Giants on July 25, then allowed seven runs (3 ERA) in 3 2/3 innings in Wednesday’s loss to the San Diego Padres. level).
One other concern is that Kershaw (0-1, 5.87 ERA) didn’t strike out among the many 21 San Diego batters he confronted. It was the primary time in 424 common season begins in 17 seasons that he didn’t strike out.
“It simply did not execute,” mentioned Kershaw, who insisted there was nothing bodily improper. “Not throwing something that I actually needed to throw, the place I needed to throw it. General, irritating.”
Although Kershaw struggled with shoulder discomfort final season, he nonetheless went 13-5 with a 2.46 ERA in 24 regular-season begins. The Dodgers nonetheless thought-about the end result a lead.
“I feel it is onerous to wager on Clayton,” Los Angeles head coach Dave Roberts mentioned. “… (His present state) is a part of the method.”
Possibly Kershaw can depend on his file in opposition to the Nationwide League’s greatest Phillies staff. He has began 16 profession common season video games in opposition to Philadelphia and has a 2.76 ERA and a 4-6 file.
Seeking to assault the Phillies, the Dodgers carried the Nationwide League’s second-best file into Monday’s sequence opener, successful 5-3.
The win included house runs by Teosco Hernandez and Shohei Ohtani, and the return of Freddie Freeman, who was on a ventilator after his 3-year-old son fell unwell and was briefly on a ventilator. Missed 8 video games throughout this era.
Freeman went 1-for-4 in his return and earned a standing ovation earlier than his first at-bat.
“I actually cannot thank the followers sufficient. I actually cannot,” Freeman mentioned.
The Phillies will ship left-hander Christopher Sanchez (7-7, 3.36 ERA) to the mound on Tuesday. Sanchez, a first-time All-Star this season, gave up six runs on eight hits in 5 2/3 innings in a loss to the New York Yankees on Wednesday.
In 5 video games in July, Sanchez went 1-4 with a 6.59 ERA, however a type of wins got here in opposition to the Dodgers on July 10 in Philadelphia. In his solely profession begin in opposition to Los Angeles, he gave up two runs on 5 hits in six innings.
With the Phillies dropping seven of their final eight video games, their lead on the high of the NL has been reduce to half a recreation by the Dodgers.
The Phillies gave up hits to all three Dodgers relievers within the closing three innings Monday however went 1-for-5 with runners in scoring place. They’re simply 4-12 for the reason that All-Star break, a far cry from the staff that swept Los Angeles in a three-game house sequence final month.
“I feel we’re struggling proper now. I feel we’re simply in a panic,” Phillies proper fielder Nick Castellanos mentioned. “However I’ll say, our dugout was excellent (Monday). All our focus was on the sphere … and we competed. It was a superb baseball recreation. Here is One thing, one thing there, it adjustments.
–Scene-level media
