Pirates at Dodgers
Cody Bellinger attempts to continue his assault on opposing pitchers when the Los Angeles Dodgers host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday for the middle contest of their three-game set. The 23-year-old went 2-for-3 with a two-run homer in Los Angeles' series-opening 6-2 victory, setting league and team records in the process.
Bellinger set the modern-day major-league mark for total bases in March/April (88) in Friday's triumph, eclipsing the mark of 85 set in 2008 by Chase Utley, and snapped a tie with Matt Kemp for most homers in Dodgers history before May 1 with his 13th. He also increased his total to 42 hits in March/April, leaving him one shy of tying Rafael Furcal's team record set in 2008. Austin Barnes, who went 1-for-17 on Los Angeles' road trip, was 2-for-4 with a homer and three RBIs. Josh Bell hit a solo homer for the Pirates, whose losing streak reached six games.
TV: 9:10 p.m. ET, AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh, SportsNet LA, KTLA (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Joe Musgrove (1-1, 1.59 ERA) vs. Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (0-0, 2.77)
Musgrove has allowed a total of five earned runs over 28 1/3 innings in four starts and one relief appearance this season but has just one victory to show for his efforts. The 26-year-old Californian did not factor in the decision against Arizona on Monday after giving up three runs and five hits in six frames. Musgrove lost his only career turn versus the Dodgers as he yielded four runs - three earned - and six hits over five innings on June 5.
Kershaw has made two starts after beginning the campaign on the injured list but has yet to record a decision. The 31-year-old Texan allowed two runs over seven innings against Cincinnati in his season debut before yielding two over six frames at Milwaukee on Sunday. Kershaw, who permitted only two hits versus the Brewers but issued four walks, is 3-3 with a 3.16 ERA in 12 career starts against Pittsburgh.
WALK-OFFS
1. The Dodgers have begun the season with a home run in each of their first 14 home games, tying the record set by the 1962 New York Mets, and have gone deep in 33 straight contests in their own park to set the new major-league record.
2. Pirates C Francisco Cervelli has hit safely in three consecutive games after going 2-for-4 in the series opener.
3. Los Angeles is expected to activate LHP Rich Hill (knee) and C Russell Martin (back) from the injured list in time for both to play in Sunday's series finale.