Dodgers at Marlins
Three-time Cy Young Award winner Clayton Kershaw was scheduled to start Tuesday's series opener at the Miami Marlins, but the Los Angeles Dodgers decided earlier in the day to hold back their ace left-hander an extra day. Kershaw was not missed in Tuesday's 15-1 rout and will pitch on six days' rest when the teams resume the three-game set on Wednesday night.
Kershaw, who has won three straight starts and four decisions in a row, is bidding to become the first pitcher since former teammate Zack Greinke in 2015 to work at least six innings in every start in a season. Los Angeles has won 11 of 13 after going deep six times Tuesday, including a pair by rookie catcher Will Smith, whose nine homers in his first 23 games are the most in franchise history. Cody Bellinger matched his career high with his 39th blast while A.J. Pollock collected three doubles to improve to 9-for-18 this month. Brian Anderson delivered a run-scoring double to give him seven RBIs during a six-game hitting streak for the Marlins, who have dropped 11 of 14.
TV: 7:10 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FS Florida (Miami)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (11-2, 2.77 ERA) vs. Marlins RH Elieser Hernandez (2-4, 4.94)
Kershaw improved to 4-0 over his last six trips to the mound by flustering St. Louis a week ago, striking out nine while permitting one and four hits over seven innings. He won his previous start with six innings of two-run ball versus San Diego after compiling a 2-0 mark and 1.44 ERA in four starts in July, including a no-decision against Miami in which he struck out 10 and yielded two hits in six scoreless innings. Starlin Castro is 2-for-29 lifetime against Kershaw.
Hernandez gets a chance to atone for a wretched relief effort at Los Angeles on July 20, when he lasted only two-thirds of an inning and was knocked around for four runs and four hits to take the loss. The 24-year-old Venezuelan rookie is coming off his finest outing of the year, striking out seven and allowing two hits over six scoreless innings against Atlanta to earn his first win since June 28. Hernandez has been solid at home with a 2-1 mark and 3.29 ERA.
WALK-OFFS
1. Smith also has the most RBIs (26) of any player in franchise history through 23 games.
2. Marlins rookie INF Jon Berti is 16-for-46 in August and has scored at least once in five straight games.
3. Dodgers 3B Justin Turner has three homers in the past two games to reach 20 for the third time in four seasons.