Kershaw and Lee Set to Face Each Other in Last Game With Philly

Clayton Kershaw (7-5, 2.84) vs. Cliff Lee (1-6, 3.92)

Lineup:

Gwynn RF

Ellis 2B

Kemp CF

Rivera 1B

Hairston LF

Uribe 3B

Cruz SS

Ellis C

Kershaw P

Today’s game will be the final matchup between the Dodgers and Phillies for this season. Earlier in June, the Dodgers swept the four-game series in Philadelphia, but that was when the Dodgers were still in first-place.

Tomorrow is a day off for the Boys in Blue before they embark on a very tough looking road trip. They’ll play three games in New York against the Mets, four games in St. Louis with the Cardinals, and then they will return to California to play the Giants at AT&T Park for three games.

Last time out, Clayton Kershaw picked up a win over the Padres at Dodger Stadium. He allowed 1 earned run off 6 hits in 6 innings. Kershaw

will try to go deeper in the game, because last time out he might have been tired from making 27 pitches in the All-Star Game prior. Kershaw has had problems with the pesky Phils in the past. In his career against Philadalphia, Kershaw has a 0-4 with a 4.95 ERA. Rollins, Utley, and Victorino all have a homerun against Clayton, and Polanco, Ruiz, and Utley are hitting over .300 against the Dodger southpaw.

Philly lefty Cliff Lee has had a hard-luck season thus far and has only garnered one win this season. It’s not that Lee hasn’t pitched well since he has had 10 quality starts, but he has had troubles this season and low run support. The Dodgers have always had a tough time against Lee. In his career against Los Angeles, he is 2-1 with a 0.90 ERA. Runs will be at a premium today. Mark Ellis, Juan Rivera, and Jerry Hairston Jr. have all hit one homerun against Lee. Most of the Dodgers haven’t mustered much against Cliff. Back on June 5th in Philadelphia, Cliff Lee lost to the Dodgers, but he only allowed 2 runs on 6 hits over 7 2/3 innings of work. Lee struck out an eye-popping 12 Dodgers that game.

Chad Billingsley, who landed on the DL with elbow inflammation, is scheduled to throw a bullpen session Friday and start on Monday. Todd Coffey will undergo his second Tommy John Surgery Wednesday. Coffey was 1-0 with a 4.66 ERA in 23 games of relief work.

Stephen Fife was optioned back down to AAA, and Javy Guerra was reinstated from the bereavement list. Javy said on Twitter that his father is doing well after heart surgery.

Andre Ethier is hitting .389 and has gone 7-for-18 with one homerun and 5 RBIs since coming off the disabled list. Yet Dre is not in the lineup today. Matt Kemp has yet to homer since May, but we are all chomping at the bit at that first Bison Blast, aren’t we?

The Dodgers desperately need this win to stave off the series sweep, although they already suffered yet another series loss. A win will prevent them from slipping further down in the standings since they now sit 3 games back of San Francisco in second place.

The afternoon game will start at 12:10 pm, and it will be televised on Prime Ticket. Thankfully this is the last time we will see Philadelphia this season.