Clayton Kershaw, Dodgers open series with A's in Oakland

OAKLAND -- The Dodgers try for a fourth straight win on Tuesday night, taking on the Athletics at O.co Coliseum in Oakland.

The Dodgers have had just one losing streak longer than three games in the last two seasons — a four-game skid from Aug. 7-10. They have had five winning streaks extend beyond three games — a seven-game streak, a five-game streak, and three four-gamers.

Clayton Kershaw is on the mound for the series opener, on a heck of a good run of his own. The left-hander has allowed 18 runs in his last 14 starts, with a 1.30 ERA, 132 strikeouts and just 14 walks during that span.

Kershaw in five of his last six starts has pitched at least eight innings and allowed no runs, per the Elias Sports Bureau one of only five pitchers in the live ball era (since 1920) to do so in a single season. The other pitchers with such a streak are Ray Herbert (1963), Bob Gibson (1968), Don Drysdale (1968) and Orel Hershiser (1988).

Going deeper into games recently, Kershaw is back up to averaging 7.04 innings per start, one of six starters in baseball this season to average at least seven innings per starts, joining Dallas Keuchel, Corey Kluber, Johnny Cueto, Sonny Gray and David Price.

Kershaw has averaged 7.10 innings per start since the beginning of 2011, and has averaged at least seven innings per start in three of the previous four seasons.

Left-hander Felix Doubront gets the start for the A's. He's 1-1 with a 4.59 ERA in seven games between Toronto and Oakland this year, with 18 strikeouts and six walks in 33⅓ innings.

The Dodgers are hitting .266/.340/.420 with a .331 wOBA against left-handed pitching this season, tops in the National League in wOBA and wRC+ (114), and tied with Miami for best OPS (.760) and OPS+ (114).

After a slow start this year, the Dodgers are now 13-12 in games against southpaw starters this season, inclduing nine wins in their last 13 games against lefties.

Game info

Time: 7:05 p.m. PT

TV: SportsNet LA