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As the Dodgers turn the page from their worst offensive month since moving to Los Angeles, they look to start July off on the right foot with ace and now two-time All-Star Clayton Kershaw on the mound, trying to avoid a series sweep by the New York Mets.
Last year on the day the All-Star rosters were announced, the Dodgers were also on ESPN and Kershaw, named an All-Star that morning, started that night in Anaheim against the Angels. Kershaw struck out 10 and walked only one in his six innings, but he also allowed seven runs and nine hits and took the loss.
Kershaw followed that start by going 13-1 with a 1.22 ERA in his final 15 starts of the season.
Dillon Gee won the lottery that is getting to pitch against the Dodgers, as he will start the series finale for the Mets.
In their 51-year history, the Mets have never swept a four-game series from the Dodgers.
Home Run Drought
The Dodgers have not hit a home run in their last eight games. They have gone 305 plate appearances since their last home run, which was hit by Bobby Abreu in the first inning in Anaheim on June 22. That Abreu home run snapped a drought of seven games, and 249 plate appearances without a home run.
In other words, the Dodgers have one home run in their last 16 games and 555 plate appearances.
Since 2000, the longest streak without a home run for the Dodgers was 10 games, right around this time last season (June 29 to July 9, 2011). The next two longest streaks have come in the last 16 games.
Game Time: 5:05 p.m.
TV: ESPN