:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/8056052/20120726_kdl_ac1_489.jpg)
Chris Capuano gets the call in the series finale for the Dodgers against the Marlins on Sunday morning in Miami, looking to snap a personal three-game losing streak. In fact, Capuano has lost five of his last six starts, and the difference in many ways can be traced to the big inning.
Capuano has started 37 different innings in his last six starts. In 25 of those innings, he has come out unscathed with no runs allowed. In four other innings, he allowed one run.
That means in his last six starts, Capuano has allowed two or more runs in an inning eight times.
Through his first 17 starts, Capuano allowed two or more runs in an inning just five times.
The result is a 5.25 ERA over his last six starts, and a 1-5 record. Capuano started to turn things around on Monday at home, allowing two total runs in seven innings against the Rockies, with single runs in the first and third innings. But the Dodgers didn't score and Capuano took another loss.
The Dodgers are no strangers to Wade LeBlanc, who made eight starts against them while with the Padres from 2008-2011. LeBlanc is 1-6 with a 4.80 ERA in eight career starts against the Dodgers, with 30 strikeouts and 17 walks in 45 innings. His only win against the Dodgers came on September 4, 2009.
LeBlanc, traded to Miami in the offseason, began his 2012 campaign with Triple A New Orleans, where he made 16 starts in the first three months of the season. Since getting recalled on July 1, LeBlanc has not allowed more than one run in any single appearance. But 11 of his 13 games have been in relief, as he rejoined the rotation on August 1. In two starts, LeBlanc has only pitched 8 1/3 total innings so far, but he has also allowed just two runs, with three walks and seven strikeouts.
Matt Kemp has dominated lefties this season, hitting .478 (32-for-67) with nine home runs and nine walks, but in his career against LeBlanc he has hit just .188 (3-for-16). Kemp does have one career home run off LeBlanc, and that came in his final at-bat against him last season, on September 23, 2011.
Roller Coaster Ride
With a win on Sunday, the Dodgers would end a cycle of streaks. They haven't won or lost less than two games in a row for nearly an entire month. They won on July 13, which was immediately followed by a series of streaks: lost four, won five, lost three, won three, lost three, won three, lost two, won two, lost one.
Game Time: 10:10 a.m.
TV: KCAL