The Dodgers Head North Looking to Find Their Groove Offensively

Clayton Kershaw (0-2, 2.25 ERA) Vs. Ty Blach (1-1, 5.79 ERA)

It’s been a bizarre first week for the Dodgers and making it even weirder is the fact that Clayton Kershaw is 0-2.  It’s not like Clayton is pitching bad, he has only given up three runs in two starts.  The offense has let Kershaw down in both of his starts.  There is really nothing Kershaw can except continuing to put up quality starts and hope the offense picks him up.  Buster Posey is the Giant who has had the most success against Kershaw as he has hit three home runs against him.

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Ty Blach did his best Madison Bumgarner impersonation as he shut the Dodgers down on opening day.  He did not allow a single run and allowed just three hits in five innings.  His changeup kept the Dodgers off balance so they will need to sit back and hammer anything left over the plate.  The Mariners did just that on Tuesday as they clobbered Blach for ten hits and six runs in just over four innings.  Chris Taylor is the only Dodger hitter who has homered off Blach before so he will look to do damage from the leadoff spot.

Cody Bellinger is another Dodger who has had success against Blach hitting .300 against him in limited plate appearances.  This is yet another game where Logan Forsythe will have a chance to get back on track and back to his lefty-mashing ways.  Blach is a very good offspeed pitcher, but he doesn’t throw hard so the Dodgers should be able to scratch some runs across the plate in their second matchup.  Kiké, Forsythe, and Kemp will look to carry the offense against multiple southpaws this weekend with Justin Turner still on the mend.

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Although win-loss records are not very important when it comes to judging a starting pitcher, it would still be very odd if Kershaw started the season 0-3.  Kershaw has owned the Giants in his career holding them to a .195 average and 314 strikeouts in 42 games.  This would make it a bizarre season if the Giants beat him twice in a week.  Early on this season, Kershaw has made it a focal point to attack the outside part of the strike zone.  While it seems to be working, Kershaw allowed two home runs last start.  He will look to fix his home run problem and get in the win column for the first time in 2018.