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After managing to score only one run in their last two games in St. Louis, the Dodgers look to rekindle their offense in Milwaukee’s Miller Park against the Brewers, opening a three-game series tonight.
The Dodgers offense sputtered over the last eighteen innings, scratching out only 10 hits (eight singles and two doubles) and batting a meager .167/.250/.200 while striking out 20 times.
Clayton Kershaw climbs the mound for the Dodgers also looking to get back on track after being roughed up in his last outing, his worst start of the season. It was only the fifth time in his career that he has allowed ten or more hits in an appearance.
Kershaw also enters this contest needing only four strikeouts to notch the 2000th of his career.
Starting Lineups
| Dodgers | . | Brewers | . |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dodgers | . | Brewers | . |
| Player | Position | Player | Position |
| Forsythe | 3B | Broxton | CF |
| Seager (L) | SS | Thames (L) | LF |
| Grandal (S) | C | Aguilar | 1B |
| Gonz�lez (L) | 1B | P�rez | 3B |
| Utley (L) | 2B | Santana | RF |
| Bellinger (L) | LF | Pi�a | C |
| Puig | RF | Villar (S) | 2B |
| Eibner | CF | Arcia | SS |
| Kershaw | P | Nelson | P |
In contrast, the Dodgers bat will contend with Jimmy Nelson who is coming off his best start of the year. The right-hander allowed only one run in seven innings while striking out 10 Diamondbacks and walking none.
Nelson led the majors by hitting 17 batters in 2016 and led the National League the year before with 13, so perhaps Chase "I don’t mind taking a plunking" Utley will figure offensively. Utley has a double and a home run in four career plate appearance versus Nelson, but has not been hit by a pitch. Yet.
Nelson is also one of four pitchers to have hit Kershaw with a pitch, nailing him on August 10, 2014 in Milwaukee, adding injury to insult as Nelson had doubled earlier. Kershaw later came around to score the first Dodgers run of that game.
With Ryan Braun on the disabled list with a strained left calf, the currently active Brewers have combined for only seven career plate appearances against Kershaw; no one other than Nelson reached base.
After nine straight starts in center field, Chris Taylor gets the night off with Brett Eibner getting the call in his place.
Game Info
Time: 5:10 p.m. PT
TV: SportsNetLA