Preview: Reigning MVPs Clayton Kershaw And Mike Trout Make History
With just two games left in the homestand, the Los Angeles Dodgers continue the Freeway Series with the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim Saturday afternoon. Clayton Kershaw takes the bump and with Mike Trout in the Angels lineup, it’s marks the first time in Major League Baseball history reigning MVPs square off.
Kershaw makes his start after twice being scratched in the last three days due to hip soreness. Dodgers manager Don Mattingly said there aren’t any concerns of Kershaw being bothered by the issue or a different pitch count because of it.
Kershaw is coming off of one of his best starts of the season in which he threw a complete game, three-hit shutout. He’s seemingly found his stride and has thrown 26 innings over his last three outings, giving up just 14 hits and striking out 38 batters.
In his first nine starts this season, Kershaw was 2-3 with a 4.32 ERA. However, since then he has gone 6-3 with a 1.21 ERA. He also begins the game with a 29-inning scoreless streak. The Angels counter with fellow left-hander Andrew Heaney, who technically is also a former Dodger.
Heaney was one of the players the Dodgers received from the Miami Marlins in the trade that sent Dee Gordon, Dan Haren and Miguel Rojas to South Beach. Heaney was then flipped over to the Angels in return for Howie Kendrick.
Heaney has appeared in six games this season and the Angels have won all of them. He’s 5-0 with a 1.79 ERA and has gone at least six innings in each of his starts without allowing more than two runs.
As Mattingly suggested would be the case prior to Friday’s game, Joc Pederson is again sitting. The Dodgers’ lineup otherwise remains unchanged from the night before, with the exception of course being at pitcher.
With a win in either of the next two games, the Dodgers will win the season series against the Angels.
Dodgers Lineup
SS: Jimmy Rollins
2B: Howie Kendrick
1B: Adrian Gonzalez
LF: Scott Van Slyke
RF: Yasiel Puig
C: Yasmani Grandal
3B: Alex Guerrero
CF: Kike Hernandez
P: Clayton Kershaw
Angels Lineup
RF: Shane Victorino
2B: Johnny Giavotella
CF: Mike Trout
1B: Albert Pujols
SS: Eric Aybar
C: Carlos Perez
LF: David De Jesus
3B: Taylor Featherston
P: Andrew Heaney
[divide]Zack Greinke On Facing Albert Pujols And Mike Trout
