Please Kershaw, Save us!

Dodgers Lineup vs. Mets

Dillon Gee-5-6 vs. Clayton Kershaw-5-4

The Los Angeles Shutouts, Er I mean the Los Angeles Dodgers are mired in one their worst slumps in recent seasons. This is more than just a slump, it’s a nightmare. The Dodgers have lost seven in a row, and 12 of their last 13 games, and fallen out of first place in the NL West, a position that they had held the entire season. The Dodgers were hitting about .218 in June, and only hit six home runs the entire month. They have been shutout in five of their last six games, and face the terrible reality of getting swept by the Mets in a four games series at home for the first time ever. The last time the Dodgers lost seven in a row, was in 2008, and they turned around to win 12 of the next 13 games that season.

The Dodgers have only scored two runs over their last 57 innings, and have not won in over a week. I don’t know what else to say anymore. It’s bad, real bad. Tonight’s game is on at 5PM, and televised on ESPN Sunday Night Baseball.

The Mets will give the ball to 28 year old right hander Dillon Gee, who has been pretty consistent this season, throwing seven straight quality starts. That string came to an end last start when he surrendered four runs in five innings in a 5-3 loss to the Cubs. Gee is 5-6 with a 4.42 ERA, and is 0-1 against the Dodgers with a 5.73 ERA. The Dodgers are a collective 4 for 11, (.211) off of Gee. Andre Ethier is 0 for 6, and James Loney is 1 for 6. No current Dodger has hit a home run off of Gee.

The Dodgers will counter with Clayton Kershaw. Kershaw has pitched well this season, but has been merely mortal, posting a record of 5-4 with a 2.74 ERA, and 11 home runs allowed despite allowing only 15 all last year. Kersh has 103 whiffs, and an 8.6 whiff per nine rate this year. Last start Kershaw allowed eight hits, and two runs to the Giants through six innings, and took the loss during one of the Dodger’s many shutouts. Kershaw has always killed the Mets. He is 4-0 with a .039 ERA against the Mets, and the entire team is hitting only .190 (15 for 79) all time against Kershaw. Andre Torres is 2 for 19 (.105) David Wright 1 for 9, and Justin Turner is 1 for 8. The only Met to have any success at all against Kershaw is of course, Jerry Hairston’s brother Scott Hairston, is 7 for 17 .412 with a double. No current Met has hit a home run against Kershaw.

Matt Kemp, and Clayton Kershaw were the only Dodgers selected to the all-star game this season, as the all-star rosters were announced earlier today. No word yet on whether Carlos Lee has accepted or denied a trade to the Dodgers, we will keep you updated as soon as we know anything.

Despite the terrible losing streak that continues to go on, Mark Ellis is returning on Thursday, and Mat Kemp is returning on July 13^th. Andre Ethier will hopefully be ready to return by tomorrow, as heals from his oblique injury.

This season has been long and exhausting. I can only imagine how the players feel. Stacie and I are pretty tired and are looking forward to the all-star break so we can take a couple of days off. We have not missed a game yet this year. No matter what happens, we will always be here to provide you guys with our daily Dodger coverage, whether the boys in blue win, lose, or get shutout. Or even if we’re sick. Go Blue. HELP!