Clayton Kershaw, Yovani Gallardo face off in middle game vs. Brewers

LOS ANGELES -- The Dodgers and Brewers continue their potential playoff preview on Saturday night, with ace Clayton Kershaw on the mound against Yovani Gallardo.

Kershaw, who was the first Dodgers pitcher since Burt Hooton in 1975 to win back-to-back National League Pitcher of the Month awards, looks to be the first Dodgers pitcher since Hooton in 1975 to win 12 straight decisions.

Kershaw beat the Brewers last Sunday in Milwaukee, allowing one run in eighth innings, and over his last 13 starts is 11-0 with a 1.16 ERA, with 13 runs and 12 walks allowed plus 117 strikeouts in 101 innings.

His current streak of 11 straight games lasting seven or more innings is the longest of his career, and the streak might be 14 straight were it not for his rain-shortened five-inning complete game on June 8 at Coors Field. Since his blow-up start in Arizona on May 17, Kershaw is averaging 7.6 innings per start.

Gallardo in his last six road starts is 3-1 with a 1.76 ERA with 31 strikeouts and four walks in 41 innings.

But with Gallardo, his bat also has to be accounted for.

Gallardo is just 5-for-39 (.128) at the plate this season, but he has 12 career home runs, including at least one for five straight years from 2009-13, the next Carlos Zambrano if you will (Zambrano hit a home run in 10 straight years from 2003-12, 24 during that span).

Since the beginning of 2009, Gallardo leads all pitchers in baseball with 10 home runs and 36 RBI, is second with 16 doubles and third with 31 runs scored. But he's also a feast or famine hitter, second with 135 strikeouts. Gallardo in his career strikes out 32.4 percent of the time and is hitting .200/.226/.339.

Worth noting: Gallardo in his career (dating back to 2007) is 10th among pitchers in OPS+, with current Dodgers pitchers Zack Greinke and Dan Haren ahead of him.

Game info

Time: 6:10 p.m. PT

TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network