True Blue LA - April 11: Dodgers 3, Nationals 0Where The Dodger Dogs Are Always Grilledhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/49563/truebluela_fav.png2021-04-12T05:13:00-07:00http://www.truebluela.com/rss/stream/221427312021-04-12T05:13:00-07:002021-04-12T05:13:00-07:00Justin Turner finally kept off base
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<img alt="MLB: Washington Nationals at Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Iz22ECY6H0_KMlaRvgpufrWHH8E=/1x0:3858x2571/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69112180/usa_today_15871304.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Kelvin Kuo-USA TODAY Sports</figcaption>
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<p>Only 10 longer streaks in Dodgers history</p> <p id="Y0qZN8"><em>We want to hear from you! True Blue LA is taking part in an audience survey that Vox Media is conducting and we’d love to have your feedback. The kicker is that you’ll get paid for your time.</em></p>
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<p id="x6Aeym">You may not have noticed on Sunday, but Justin Turner failed to reach base against the Nationals. It hadn’t happened in quite a while, and ended what was the longest active streak in MLB — 39 straight games reaching base.</p>
<p id="dMW8kc">Turner flew out to left field in the first inning, then grounded out to shortstop in both the fourth and sixth innings. That Turner — who batted third in the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> lineup, like he has every one of his games this season — didn’t get a fourth trip to the plate shows how hard scoring was to come by on Sunday. And that the Dodgers won at home, so Turner didn’t get to lead off the bottom of the ninth.</p>
<p id="25sh2z">The 39-game streak dated back to last August 4, and counts regular season games only. Turner failed to reach base in four of his 18 games in the postseason, but in terms of a regular season streak it was the longest streak by a Dodger since Shawn Green reached base in 53 straight games in 2000.</p>
<p id="Koq3tX">Turner’s streak is tied for the 11th-longest in Dodgers history, with only three Los Angeles streaks ahead of him.</p>
<div id="eVxTFC"><div data-anthem-component="table:10441449"></div></div>
<p id="zT6IqS">Even with the 0-for-3, Turner is hitting .378/.415/.676 in the early going, and his two home runs are already a personal April record, with 17 of remaining games in the month for Turner to add to his total.</p>
<p id="btWewg">With Turner’s streak now over, the longest active MLB streak belongs to DJ LeMahieu, who has reached base in his last 29 straight games.</p>
<h3 id="nEcOJH">Links</h3>
<ul>
<li id="IHdFlE">Zach McKinstry is off to a torrid start, <a href="https://www.latimes.com/sports/dodgers/story/2021-04-11/zach-mckinstry-dodgers-clayton-kershaw-nationals">writes Mike DiGiovanna at the Los Angeles Times</a>.</li>
<li id="MMpUwd">Bill Plunkett at the Orange County Register <a href="https://www.ocregister.com/2021/04/11/dodgers-do-pitching-gymnastics-in-advance-of-first-series-vs-padres/">offers his thoughts on the Dodgers “pitching gymnastics” in shuffling their rotation</a>.</li>
<li id="NNZfTY">MLB.com’s Dodgers stat of the day profiles Clayton Kershaw being 100 games over .500 in his career.</li>
<li id="7LPgBo">Molly Knight at The Athletic <a href="https://go.redirectingat.com?id=66960X1516590&xs=1&url=https%3A%2F%2Ftheathletic.com%2F2509939%2F2021%2F04%2F09%2Fdodger-stadium-is-my-home-fans-share-emotions-about-opening-day-return-after-being-away-for-18-months%2F&referrer=sbnation.com&sref=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.truebluela.com%2F2021%2F4%2F12%2F22379230%2Fjustin-turner-on-base-streak-39-games-dodgers-history" rel="sponsored nofollow noopener" target="_blank">talked to several Dodgers fans at the home opener</a>.</li>
<li id="FOBscl">On Saturday, old friend Tim Locastro stole his 28th career base without getting caught, setting a major league record to start a career. His <a href="https://twitter.com/Dbacks/status/1381099176134512640">cleats are headed to Cooperstown</a>.</li>
</ul>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/4/12/22379230/justin-turner-on-base-streak-39-games-dodgers-historyEric Stephen2021-04-11T16:59:52-07:002021-04-11T16:59:52-07:00In sweep-finishing save, ‘Kenley today was something’
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<img alt="Washington Nationals v Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/nqyCfaAuPtHZ5R1-uMm3Wy1QyWc=/0x0:4048x2699/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69110711/1312014583.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Dave Roberts: “It was clearly his best outing of the year.”</p> <p id="QTjKMz">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> had a nice cushion in the ninth inning, so when Kenley Jansen took the mound with a three-run lead in his first appearance since blowing a save on Wednesday, there wasn’t a threat of imminent danger. But given how good his stuff was on Sunday, it might not have mattered the situation he was in.</p>
<p id="Me2IUo">“Kenley today was something,” said Clayton Kershaw, <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/4/11/22378815/clayton-kershaw-duel-max-scherzer-zach-mckinstry-home-run-dodgers-nationals-recap">who won with six scoreless innings</a>. “I haven’t seen that Kenley — that was awesome. That’s a great sign for the Dodgers.”</p>
<p id="hnAsx8">Jansen struck out Luis Garcia looking on three pitches, then needed only four pitches to get Starlin Castro swinging. Yadiel Hernandez avoided the same fate by grounding back to the box on the first pitch, finishing off Jansen’s dominant inning.</p>
<div id="PG2G8q">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Shut it down, <a href="https://twitter.com/kenleyjansen74?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@kenleyjansen74</a>! <a href="https://t.co/bAQ7RZzfaA">pic.twitter.com/bAQ7RZzfaA</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1381384769200562176?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2021</a>
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<p id="4nLFwh">“It was clearly his best outing of the year,” manager Dave Roberts said. “The command, the stuff was really good. Pitching to the top part of the zone, getting ahead of guys, getting the swing and miss. A really dominant outing.”</p>
<p id="qOVw2x">At this point we are only dealing with four appearances for Jansen this season, but in his first three games he <a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/savant-player/kenley-jansen-445276?stats=statcast-r-pitching-mlb">averaged 90.3 mph on his cutter and 91.7 mph on his two-seam fastball</a>. On Sunday, <a href="https://baseballsavant.mlb.com/gamefeed?date=4/11/2021&gamePk=632214&chartType=pitch&legendType=pitchName&playerType=pitcher&inning=&count=&pitchHand=&batSide=&descFilter=&ptFilter=&resultFilter=&hf=playerBreakdown#632214">his five cutters averaged 93.5 mph and his three two-seam fastballs averaged 94.1 mph</a>. A small sample size to be sure, but also eye-opening, to see those pitches with that movement, looking like the dominant 2017 version of Jansen.</p>
<p id="SGRgtS">“He’s been working really hard with the performance guys, Brandon McDaniel and his staff. Connor McGuiness has been good for him,” Roberts said. “He’s just been working real hard. Credit goes to Kenley, and it was really fun to see.”</p>
<p id="PBsl7j">Through 10 games, only twice has a Dodgers reliever pitched on back-to-back days, including Jansen on Tuesday and Wednesday, the latter his blown save. In both cases — Victor Gonzalez was the other on April 2-3 — the pitcher got three days rest before pitching again.</p>
<p id="68VEfC">No Dodgers reliever has yet pitched three times in four days, which will be impossible to avoid over a long season. But knowing the Dodgers have closing options — Corey Knebel has retired 13 of 14 batters this season and Blake Treinen has been sharp, and both pitched scoreless innings Sunday — is a literal relief, both if Jansen falters or just keeping him from overuse.</p>
<p id="kz2ax9">Whatever it takes to get more outings from Jansen like Sunday’s.</p>
<h3 id="jjZKlz">Notes</h3>
<p id="k115Hi">With the win on Sunday, Kershaw’s career record improved to 177-77. Only eight pitchers in the divisional era (1969-present) have at least 100 more wins than losses: Pedro Martinez, Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Jim Palmer, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Greg Maddux, and Tom Glavine.</p>
<p id="gJXInk">“Just the product of being on great teams. I mean, that’s really all it is,” Kershaw said. “I’ve been very fortunate to be on Dodger teams that make the playoffs year after year, and we always win games. That’s really what I attribute it to.”</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/4/11/22378960/kenley-jansen-dominant-save-dodgers-clayton-kershawEric Stephen2021-04-11T15:40:01-07:002021-04-11T15:40:01-07:00Kershaw wins duel with Scherzer, powered by McKinstry
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<img alt="Washington Nationals v Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/fsovjdPsOo4yrwTxiKCaEdl5iHQ=/0x0:3028x2019/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69110392/1312004755.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>McKinstry drives in all 3 runs, Kershaw wins 100th at Dodger Stadium</p> <p id="wYRvJC">The Hall of Fame pitching duel lived up to the hype, for two-thirds of the game anyway, while Zach McKinstry provided the offense in leading the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> to a 3-0 win and a sweep of the Nationals on Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p id="2sAkr3">Scoring opportunities were scarce thanks to Clayton Kershaw and Max Scherzer both being on their game.</p>
<p id="rL1zau">“The level of compete with these guys is next level. Obviously when they’re opposing one another, I think it might be — if at all possible — heightened that much more,” manager Dave Roberts said before Sunday’s game. “To watch the best of our generation go head to head, I’m excited.”</p>
<p id="6JYzSh">Kershaw in his first home start of the season was especially sharp, allowing only five singles and no walks. The biggest threat probably came in the sixth, when a wild pitch put the speedy Trea Turner in scoring position with nobody out. But Kershaw responded by retiring the next three in order, including strikeouts of Juan Soto and Jordy Mercer, giving Kershaw six strikeouts on the day.</p>
<p id="d6WImu">Kershaw only threw 86 pitches, but with his spot due up leading off the bottom of the sixth in 1-0 game, his day was complete.</p>
<p id="bVwFDi">This was Kershaw’s 100th career win at Dodger Stadium, including 95 in the regular season and five in postseason play. Only Hall of Famer Don Sutton, with 130, has more wins at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p id="L7ZJus">In 198 career starts at Chavez Ravine in both the regular season and postseason combined, Kershaw has 48 scoreless outings.</p>
<p id="6aI5TK">That the Dodgers held a 1-0 lead wasn’t necessarily a knock on Scherzer, who was excellent in his own right, with five strikeouts and four baserunners allowed in his six innings. But McKinstry was able to harness the power of the sun with a fly ball double that confounded center fielder Victor Robles with two outs in the second inning. That scored Max Muncy, who singled and has a robust .524 on-base percentage through 10 games.</p>
<p id="GKg64O">McKinstry was able to provide some more power, though not of the solar variety, in the seventh inning, by lining a home run to right field off Tanner Rainey to widen the Dodgers’ lead to 3-0. </p>
<div id="rFUJRk">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">And if you don't know, now you know. <a href="https://twitter.com/ZachCMU?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ZachCMU</a> can BALL. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Dodgers?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Dodgers</a> <a href="https://t.co/A1JsNyrwWQ">pic.twitter.com/A1JsNyrwWQ</a></p>— SportsNet LA (@SportsNetLA) <a href="https://twitter.com/SportsNetLA/status/1381370657313746950?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2021</a>
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<p id="H76ZVY">“It’s definitely awesome when you get a chance to jog the bases instead of running,” quipped McKinstry, whose first home run, eight days ago in Colorado, was inside the park.</p>
<p id="o1tNRC">The rookie McKinstry, who has started games at second base, right field, and left field this season — including starting the last seven games while Cody Bellinger and Mookie Betts have been hurt — leads the Dodgers with 10 runs batted in, and is tied for the team lead with two home runs.</p>
<h3 id="qknAKA">Sunday particulars</h3>
<p id="KsIVal"><strong>Home run</strong>: Zach McKinstry (2)</p>
<p id="F7BwyD"><strong>WP — Clayton Kershaw (2-1)</strong>: 6 IP, 5 hits, 6 strikeouts</p>
<p id="1RD8FW"><strong>LP — Max Scherzer (0-1)</strong>: 6 IP, 3 hits, 1 run, 5 strikeouts</p>
<p id="Gh1eAs"><strong>Sv — Kenley Jansen (2)</strong>: 1 IP, 2 strikeouts</p>
<h3 id="WhEqGq">Up next</h3>
<p id="ldhfYG">The Dodgers are off Monday, but stay home to start a three-game series on Tuesday against the Rockies. Trevor Bauer <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/4/11/22378606/dodgers-rotation-rockies-padres-walker-buehler-trevor-bauer-dustin-may">makes his first home start as a Dodger in the opener</a> (7:10 p.m., SportsNet LA), facing right-hander Antonio Senzatela.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/4/11/22378815/clayton-kershaw-duel-max-scherzer-zach-mckinstry-home-run-dodgers-nationals-recapEric Stephen2021-04-11T14:10:12-07:002021-04-11T14:10:12-07:00Dodgers honor Fernando Valenzuela, but they still haven’t retired his number 34
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<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers defeat the Washington Nationals 1-0 on Opening Day." src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/JRknVGSrIJ543GGaWD8CL5roFPA=/0x0:5112x3408/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69110091/1311731495.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Valenzuela: “If anybody wants to wear it, it’s fine. If somebody is asking for that number, no problem.”</p> <p id="SUDU0d">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> before Sunday’s game introduced Fernando Valenzuela to the crowd after a pair of highlight videos played recounting his remarkable achievements, two days after the 40th anniversary of his first major league start in 1981, the beginning of Fernandomania.</p>
<div id="FROPex">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">Legend. <br><br>This year, the Dodgers celebrate the 40th anniversary of Fernandomania, a magical rookie season that meant so much to many. <a href="https://t.co/o1xzsJgGil">pic.twitter.com/o1xzsJgGil</a></p>— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) <a href="https://twitter.com/Dodgers/status/1381343459701760001?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 11, 2021</a>
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<p id="kAb234">But as Valenzuela was surrounded by his family next to the Dodgers dugout, as they said in unison, “It’s time for Dodger baseball” to kick off the start of Sunday’s game, a glance up at the retired uniform numbers along the base of the club level down the left field line at Dodger Stadium showed no new reveal. No gap to add a new number.</p>
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<img alt="Gil Hodges will be the 11th player to have his uniform number retired by the Dodgers, which will be displayed on the club level at Dodger Stadium." data-mask-text="false" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/9ziYaS8W8u5VrJeAOuR6vhA3rPI=/400x0/filters:no_upscale()/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_asset/file/22436670/dodger_stadium_retired_numbers_041021_cropped.jpg">
<cite><em>Photo: Eric Stephen | True Blue LA</em></cite>
<figcaption>The Dodgers have retired 10 uniform numbers, plus plaques for Hall of Fame announcers Jaime Jarrín and Vin Scully.</figcaption>
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<p id="IPg5ZO">The Dodgers’ unofficial policy is that they only retire uniform numbers of Hall of Fame players, which is a fine sentiment but certainly open to exceptions. For instance, Mike Piazza was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2016, but here we are five years later and his number 31 still hasn’t been retired by the Dodgers — seven people have worn it since he left — because of a pissing contest between Piazza and the team over his acrimonious departure in 1998.</p>
<p id="dDtFCU">Only nine of the 10 retired numbers are players or managers inducted into Cooperstown, plus Jim Gilliam, whose number 19 is retired after an excellent career as a player in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, then as a coach before his untimely death before the 1978 <a href="https://www.sbnation.com/world-series">World Series</a>.</p>
<p id="nnxTHZ">Gilliam was a favorite of owner Walter O’Malley, but it shouldn’t take a tragedy to change precedent.</p>
<p id="3Uk01s">Valenzuela said he wore number 34 because that was the uniform that was in his locker when he was called up to the majors in September 1980. He kept wearing it for the Dodgers, when he won Rookie of the Year and the Cy Young Award, through six All-Star Games, while pitching a no-hitter, and as a part of two World Series winners, all while captivating a fanbase as the Dodgers’ biggest-ever star from Mexico.</p>
<p id="4WNGUo">The Dodgers released Valenzuela at the end of spring training in 1991, and they haven’t issued number 34 to anyone since. For 30 years, Valenzuela’s number has been functionally retired. But not officially.</p>
<p id="HnS8Zx">“For me it would be nice, but for right now I don’t see anyone wearing that number,” Valenzuela said Saturday. “If anybody wants to wear it, it’s fine. If somebody is asking for that number, no problem. I know it’s going to happen sooner or later, but who knows?”</p>
<p id="jKrb3g">Valenzuela’s impact on the Dodgers is immense, and he remains in the family as an announcer for the team. He is one of the most beloved members in the organization’s history, evident by the goosebump-inducing roar any time he is mentioned at Dodger Stadium.</p>
<p id="gR0yo9">Number 34 is already retired in practice. But the Dodgers need to make it official, and give Fernando Valenzuela the pomp and circumstance he richly deserves.</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/4/11/22378592/fernando-valenzuela-anniversary-fernandomania-dodgers-no-number-34-retiredEric Stephen2021-04-11T12:49:00-07:002021-04-11T12:49:00-07:00Dodgers vs. Nationals Game III chat
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<img alt="Washington Nationals v Los Angeles Dodgers" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zD9Lzp_Gd31w5kI4SaNwQ-yaT4o=/0x2:7963x5311/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69109844/1311982565.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Michael Owens/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Kershaw. Scherzer.</p> <p id="R59oXM">It’s Clayton Kershaw and the <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> trying for the sweep against Max Scherzer and the Nationals on Sunday afternoon in Los Angeles. This is Kershaw’s 198th career start at Dodger Stadium, counting the postseason. His ERA here is 2.28, with 1,477 strikeouts in 1,325 innings.</p>
<h3 id="A5Hb5S">Pregame reading</h3>
<aside id="Wr9dAu"><div data-anthem-component="readmore" data-anthem-component-data='{"stories":[{"title":"Dodgers set rotation for Rockies, with an eye toward the Padres","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2021/4/11/22378606/dodgers-rotation-rockies-padres-walker-buehler-trevor-bauer-dustin-may"},{"title":"It’s Kershaw vs. Scherzer day","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2021/4/11/22377358/clayton-kershaw-max-scherzer-dodgers-nationals-preview"},{"title":"Luke Raley’s ‘surreal’ debut adds to an already prolific draft class","url":"https://www.truebluela.com/2021/4/11/22377733/luke-raley-major-league-debut-dodgers-2016-draft"}]}'></div></aside><h3 id="BMckEm">Game info</h3>
<ul>
<li id="qbtcOo">Teams: Dodgers vs. Nationals</li>
<li id="xfxWtU">Location: Dodger Stadium</li>
<li id="FQHJlO">Time: 1:10 p.m. PT</li>
<li id="pe2tOc">TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network (out of market)</li>
</ul>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/4/11/22378629/dodgers-nationals-game-threadEric Stephen2021-04-11T12:14:23-07:002021-04-11T12:14:23-07:00Dodgers set rotation for Rockies, with an eye toward the Padres
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<img alt="Los Angeles Dodgers v Oakland Athletics" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/Q961sFiurBpEwz4WSl4X1ucOrkI=/0x0:4800x3200/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69109760/1311511209.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Buehler, Kershaw, and Bauer lined up to pitch next weekend in San Diego</p> <p id="yS9KXW">The <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> set the starting rotation for their next series at home against the Rockies, and will give Walker Buehler extra rest to line him up against the Padres next weekend in San Diego.</p>
<p id="1IOtJz">Off days last Thursday and this Monday gave the Dodgers some maneuverability, with an eye toward the top of the rotation. Dustin May would have lined up to pitch Sunday against the Nationals <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/2021/4/9/22375909/clayton-kershaw-start-dodgers-nationals-off-days-dustin-may">but he was pushed back to Wednesday</a>. May will pitch on eight days rest to avoid having Clayton Kershaw and Trevor Bauer pitch on six days rest.</p>
<p id="wygza1">Kershaw is starting Sunday on four days rest, with Bauer lined up for Tuesday against Colorado on five days rest. The Dodgers will start Julio Urías in Thursday’s series finale against the Rockies, which lines up Buehler, Kershaw, and Bauer against the Padres in an NL West showdown series next weekend at Petco Park, the first of two straight weekends the two juggernauts will face each other. </p>
<div class="c-float-right"><div id="qYl7eh"><div data-anthem-component="table:10440809"></div></div></div>
<p id="X1VHEF">Not that Dave Roberts would acknowledge the coincidence.</p>
<p id="BRAeR1">“I think you can read into it any way you want. But I think making sure guys are rested and feeling good going into a particular series is the ultimate goal,” Roberts said Sunday. “I hesitate to say any more emphasis [on the Padres], but obviously you’re looking at the talent, the build up, we’ll be ready for that series.”</p>
<p id="VR4vZU">Kershaw’s start on Sunday is his second start on four days rest this season, and the third for the Dodgers through 10 games. With Urías Thursday and Bauer next Sunday also lined up for four days rest, the Dodgers will be approaching their total from 2020, when their starters pitched on four days rest just seven times in 60 regular season games. But they’ve still had far more starts with at least five days rest, including in seven of their first nine games.</p>
<p id="6GPSzr">“There’s going to be pitching gymnastics all year for our club,” Roberts said. “Number one, because we have a lot of talent. Number two, we want to make sure that we manage the usage and keep these guys raring and clicking on all cylinders through October.”</p>
<h3 id="OcKa9r">Notes</h3>
<p id="u9Wy7H">The plan for Brusdar Graterol is to pitch two games in three days at Camelback Ranch, and if all goes well he could be activated from the injured list shortly after.</p>
<p id="9SZKvQ">Tony Gonsolin is still experiencing shoulder soreness and did not throw a bullpen session on Sunday. “He’s still a ways away for me right now, where he’s at,” Roberts said.</p>
<p id="yniNlp">The pitching matchups for the Dodger-Rockies series:</p>
<p id="lozt4F">Tuesday: Trevor Bauer vs. Antonio Senzatela<br>Wednesday: Dustin May vs. Jon Gray<br>Thursday: Julio Urías vs. Austin Gomber</p>
https://www.truebluela.com/2021/4/11/22378606/dodgers-rotation-rockies-padres-walker-buehler-trevor-bauer-dustin-mayEric Stephen2021-04-11T09:10:12-07:002021-04-11T09:10:12-07:00It’s Kershaw vs. Scherzer day
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<img alt="90th MLB All-Star Game, presented by Mastercard" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zSoM182zFHQ0cOpiFpSp12tZW5w=/0x0:4453x2969/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/69109215/1154818240.jpg.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Photo by Rob Tringali/MLB Photos via Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Highly-decorated pitching matchup to finish off Dodgers-Nationals</p> <p id="p14oSh">We get a treat in the finale of <a href="https://www.truebluela.com/">Dodgers</a> vs. Nationals on Sunday, with one of the most celebrated pitching matchups in baseball. Clayton Kershaw starts against Max Scherzer in a battle of future Hall of Famers.</p>
<p id="CZpuxw">Both were drafted high in 2006 — Kershaw seventh overall by the Dodgers, and Scherzer 11th by the <a href="https://www.azsnakepit.com/">Diamondbacks</a>. Conveniently, both debuted four weeks apart in 2008. </p>
<p id="HgwMA4">Each has won three Cy Young Awards and finished in the top five seven times. Kershaw finished second twice, and Scherzer once. Scherzer has two no-hitters to Kershaw’s one. Kershaw is an eight-time All-Star, Scherzer seven. Kershaw has an MVP. The résumés are impeccable.</p>
<p id="sHjz7A">But this is just the fourth time the two have faced off against each other. </p>
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<p id="sHH92I">The first time they faced each other was September 7, 2008 at Dodger Stadium, when both were rookies. Scherzer was making his fourth major league start (and pitching in his 13th major league game), while Kershaw was starting for the 17th time. Both pitchers allowed three runs in no-decisions, and they were still incubating as major leaguers. Kershaw only pitched four innings and Scherzer pitched five, though Scherzer struck out 11.</p>
<p id="9TvNWU">Then came the 2016 NLDS, when the Dodgers jumped on Scherzer early in Game 1 with four runs, including home runs by Corey Seager and Justin Turner, and Kershaw and the bullpen made it hold up for a 4-3 win.</p>
<p id="bnJt8y">The last matchup featured a pair of much more accomplished pitchers. On April 20, 2018, both pitchers entered the game with three career Cy Young Awards. Scherzer won the previous two National League awards, and would finish second in 2018. He got the better of Kershaw in this one, allowing a run in six innings while striking out nine. Kershaw lasted longer, but allowed four runs in his seven innings.</p>
<p id="PUclHT">Sunday we get the Dodgers going for a sweep of the Nationals, with Kershaw coming off his best start of the season, allowing one run in seven innings while striking out eight and walking none. Scherzer also pitched Tuesday, and struck out nine with no walks against the Braves. But he also allowed four runs in six innings in a no-decision.</p>
<h3 id="BMckEm">Game info</h3>
<ul>
<li id="qbtcOo">Teams: Dodgers vs. Nationals</li>
<li id="xfxWtU">Location: Dodger Stadium</li>
<li id="FQHJlO">Time: 1:10 p.m. PT</li>
<li id="pe2tOc">TV: SportsNet LA, MLB Network (out of market)</li>
</ul>
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https://www.truebluela.com/2021/4/11/22377358/clayton-kershaw-max-scherzer-dodgers-nationals-previewEric Stephen