Giants at Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers won 104 games in the regular season last year but fell one victory shy of their first World Series title in 29 years last October. They begin anew with their ace on the mound when Clayton Kershaw gets the nod in Thursday's season opener at home against the San Francisco Giants to open a four-game series.
The 30-year-old three-time Cy Young Award winner spun four scoreless innings of relief in the Game 7 loss to the Houston Astros in the World Series, but couldn't protect a four-run lead as the starter in a pivotal Game 5 and he knows how important it is to turn the page. "I understand the fans' frustration," Kershaw told the Los Angeles Times. "I've been a fan. I've seen the Cowboys lose. I've seen the Mavericks lose. I understand you're frustrated. But you'd be even more frustrated if the team didn't show up the next year, either. You've got to go play. We've got to go compete. I mean, the alternative isn't great. To just sit there and be depressed?" The opener against the rival Giants - who finished with a National League-low 64 wins in 2017 - was supposed to pit Kershaw against San Francisco ace Madison Bumgarner, but the latter suffered a broken pitching hand when a line drive caught him last week and Ty Blach will get the nod. The Giants are hoping for a rebound behind a lineup bolstered by the acquisitions of longtime Pittsburgh Pirates star Andrew McCutchen and Tampa Bay Rays stalwart Evan Longoria.
TV: 7:08 p.m. ET, ESPN
PITCHING MATCHUP: Giants LH Ty Blach (2017: 8-12, 4.78 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (2017: 18-4, 2.31)
Blach made 24 starts and came out of the bullpen 10 times in his first full season, posting a 3.20 ERA in five appearances versus the Dodgers. The 27-year-old was 2-7 with a 5.02 ERA after the All-Star break and finished 3-7 with a 5.55 mark on the road. Blach, who allowed seven earned runs in 17 1/3 innings while striking out 15 this spring, has yielded two runs and 10 hits in 13 career frames at Dodger Stadium.
Kershaw, who missed time in the second half of the last two seasons due to back issues, proved he was ready for Opening Day with 21 1/3 scoreless innings and 23 strikeouts during Cactus League play. He boasts a remarkable 1.60 ERA - his lowest against an NL West opponent - in 41 career games (40 starts) versus the Giants. San Francisco first baseman Brandon Belt has struggled mightily against the southpaw, managing just three hits and striking out 27 times in 51 career at-bats, while McCutchen (9-for-27 with a home run) has fared much better.
WALK-OFFS
1. Blach is 3-for-5 with a double against Kershaw.
2. Dodgers closer RHP Kenley Jansen has 88 saves over the last two seasons while striking out 213 in 136 innings.
3. McCutchen and Longoria entered Tuesday a combined 27-for-80 (.338) this spring.