Dodgers Vs. Indians Preview: Haren Makes Second Interleague Start
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After taking three of four from the St. Louis Cardinals, the Los Angeles Dodgers move into a tie for first place in the NL West. The Dodgers are set for another Interleague matchup with the Cleveland Indians visiting Chavez Ravine for the first time since 2008.
The Dodgers have relied on strong pitching to make up the distance between them and the San Francisco Giants, but they may need to be more offensive minded Monday with Dan Haren taking the mound.
Haren is coming off two consecutive no-decisions with his latest being a 4.1-inning effort against the Kansas City Royals in which he allowed four runs. While Haren wasn’t credited with a win, the Dodgers managed to hang on for a 5-4 victory.
Haren has made 12 career starts against the Cleveland Indians and is 4-3 with a 3.82 ERA. The right-hander last faced the Indians in 2012 when he was with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. This season, Haren is 7-4 with a 3.83 ERA.
Taking the mound for the Indians is Corey Kluber, who is 7-5 with a 3.09 ERA in 17 starts. The right-hander threw seven innings shutout innings in his last outing and is 1-3 over his last five starts. Kluber is 6-0 in six career starts against National League competition.
Kluber last faced an NL opponent in April, when he threw six innings and earned a win against the San Diego Padres.
Hanley Ramirez is once again out of the Dodger lineup as he continues to deal with calf tightness. Prior to Monday’s game, manager Don Mattingly reiterated a decision as to whether or not Ramirez should be placed on the disabled list had yet to be made.
Without Ramirez, Miguel Rojas earns another start at shortstop and Yasiel Puig remains second in the lineup, followed by Adrian Gonzalez. With a win, the Dodgers can move into first place in the NL West with the Giants idle.
Dodgers Lineup:
2B: Gordon
RF: Puig
1B: Gonzalez
LF: Kemp
CF: Ethier
3B: Uribe
C: Ellis
SS: Rojas
P: Haren
Indians Lineup:
CF: Bourn
SS: Cabrera
LF: Brantley
1B: Santana
2B: Kipnis
3B: Chisenhall
C: Gomes
RF: Murphy
P: Kluber
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