Los Angeles Dodgers Game Previews: Heavyweight Match Part Two: Madison Bumgarner Vs. Clayton Kershaw

Everybody is hurt, but the Dodgers are still winning somehow. Tonight we get the battle of the century part two. Madison Bumgarner versus Clayton Kershaw. The Dodgers are without Yasiel Puig who is on the disabled list with a strained hamstring. Puig and Bumgarner have bad blood, and unfortunately there will be no bat flips or banter. Well there could be bat flips, just not from Puig.

Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Dodgers Lineup @San Francisco

Rollins SS

Hernandez CF

Turner 1B

Kendrick 2B

Van Slyke RF

Guerrero LF

Uribe 3B

Ellis C

Kershaw P

Madison Bumgarner-1-1 vs. Clayton Kershaw-1-1

Game Tim e – 7:10P PM

Carl Crawford is ailing as well, what else is new? Crawford had reported a sore side after tripling in Monday night’s 8-3 win. According to Eric Stephen, the MRI showed an oblique tear. Here we go with everybody getting hurt again.

I guess Crawford is going to be out a while. So the Dodgers have called up Kike Hernandez from Oklahoma City. He’s in the lineup batting second and playing center field.

I would expect for both managers to fill their lineups with all righties. Why use the all right hander lineups? Because both Bumgarner and Kershaw kill left handers.

Left handers vs. Bumgarner – .213 .566 OPS

Left handers vs. Kershaw – .189 .563 OPS

So that is why the Dodgers are going to load up on right handers tonight. Van Slyke is in the lineup playing in right field, and look who’s in left field? Alex Guerrero gets his first start of the year in left field. That should make twitter jubilant. Justin Turner is at first base batting third.

In the first meeting between the two, it was a draw. Both starters got a no-decision as the Giants would eventually win 3-2. In that game Kershaw allowed two runs on three hits in six frames, and Bumgarner allowed two runs on six hits through 6.1 innings. Kershaw whiffed nine and walked one, and Bumgarner whiffed six and walked two. Both pitchers are 1-1 on the season with a similar ERA. Kershaw has a 4.07 ERA, and Bumgarner has a 4.63 ERA.

Bumgarner is 11-5 with a 2.56 ERA against the Dodgers, and is 7-3 with a 2.19 ERA at Dodger Stadium. Kershaw is 14-5 with a 1.48 ERA and four shutouts against the Giants. Kershaw has 200 whiffs in 195 frames versus the Giants. So this is going to be push against shove again.

That’s about it for now. Sad news, Kirk Gibson was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. According to the reports, the 57-year old had been with the Tiger’s broadcast team, but has missed a lot of the season so far. We wish Gibson the best.

That is all for now. Check back in with us after the game for our nightly recap. Go Blue!