Dodgers Will Try to Deal Cards Series Loss

Clayton Kershaw (3-1, 2.22) vs. Jake Westbrook (4-2, 2.35)

Lineup:

Tony Gwynn 8

Elian Herrera 4

Bobby Abreu 7

Andre Ethier 9

Adam Kennedy 5

James Loney 3

A.J. Ellis 2

Justin Sellers 6

Clayton Kershaw 1

Dodger Stadium is expected to be packed for game two against the Cards as they hold their inaugural FanFest. Dodger Stadium gates will open early at 11:45 am, and the event will be running from noon to game time at 7:10 pm. Sounds like a full day of Dodger fun!

Like us, the Cardinals are dealing with injuries. Allen Craig, Kyle McClellan, and Jon Jay have all been placed on the disabled list recently. Carlos Beltran is also battling knee soreness which can explain some of the balls which fell between the gap in the Cards’ outfield last night. The Dodgers could be getting some much-needed help soon.  Jerry Hairston Jr. could be activated from the DL as early as next week.

“Everything feels good,” said Hairston. “I hope to be playing in games in a few days.” Jerry strained his left hamstring on May 6th as he ran out an infield single.

Hairston will play one or two minor league rehab games before he is activated.

Clayton Kershaw is settling into his groove now. Last time out against Ian Kennedy and the D-backs, Kersh pitched 7 scoreless innings. In his career against St. Louis, Clayton is 3-2 with a 3.28 ERA in eight starts. Last season against the Red Birds, Clayton was 1-1 with a 4.22 ERA. We’ll have to look out for Dodger bully Matt Holliday who is hitting .333 against Kersh.

Jake Westbrook had a tough outing last time he pitched on Monday. He threw 107 pitches in just 5 innings. Before being replaced in the game, he allowed 4 runs on 11 hits. The right-handed sinker ball pitcher will be looking to bounce back against the Dodgers, but he has little experience against the team. He has pitched just 2 innings against us, and is 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA in those couple of relief innings with Cleveland in Interleague Play back in 2003. Only Bobby Abreu, Mark Ellis, Adam Kennedy, and Matt Treanor have faced Westbrook before. Treanor is hitting .400 with one homerun against him.

The Dodgers’ record of 26-13 is tops in baseball, and they hold a commanding 6 game lead in the division. San Francisco is 6 games back, while Arizona and Colorado are a distant 8.5 and 10.5 games back. It is quite amazing that the Dodgers have been able to play as well as they have even after the rash of injuries that have disabled their best player Matt Kemp and three of their other key players. They have been playing with heart, and while no one thought the Dodgers would be a legitimate contender this season, it is finally time for the naysayers to take notice.

The game will be a little later than usual for Saturday at 7:10 pm, and it will be televised on KCAL. Please check back after the game for our complete postgame coverage. Go Blue!

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