Dodgers Turn To Kershaw To Even Series With Bucs

Dodgers Lineup vs. Pirates

Clayton Kershaw-5-4 vs. Brandon Cumpton-0-0

The Dodgers will take on the Pirates in game two of this three game set at PNC Park. This afternoon’s game will feature Clayton Kershaw as the Dodgers try to even the series. Yesterday the Dodgers were put on a Locke down, as Jeff Locke tossed seven scoreless innings, limiting the Dodger to just two measly hits.

This afternoon, the Bucs hope to do the same. The Bucs and Dodgers are a tale of two completely different teams heading in opposite directions. The Bucs have already won 40 games, while the Dodgers sink further and further into the oblivion of last place.

Can Kershaw finally get some run support?-Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers will send their ace Clayton Kershaw to the mound this afternoon, in search of his sixth win. Yes he still hasn’t won his sixth game yet, mainly because the Dodgers don’t score any runs for him. As a matter of fact the Dodgers have given poor Kershaw one of the least amounts of run support in the league. Kershaw is 2-1 with a 2.57 ERA with 44 whiffs in seven games against the Pirates. In four games at PNC Park, Kershaw is 1-0 with a 3.74 ERA.

The Dodgers have lost five of Kershaw’s last eight starts. Primarily because they never score any runs for him barely scoring three runs a game during his starts, if that. In Kershaw’s last start against Arizona, he allowed just one run through six hits through seven frames, and again came away with another no-decision. Kershaw did beat Pittsburgh back on April 6 at Dodger Stadium. In that game he whiffed nine and allowed just two hits over seven frames. The left hander has held the Bucs to a .221 (21 for 95) average against with four home runs allowed. Andrew McCutchen is .294 (5 for 17) with a home run. Clint Barmes is batting .259 (7 for 27) off of Kershaw with a home run of his own. Gaby Sanchez, and Garrett Jones have each also hit a home run off of Kershaw. Kershaw is 5-4 with a 1.88 ERA in 2013. He has 96 whiffs, and walked only 28, ranking among the league leaders in ERA, whiffs, and batting average against.

The Pirates will be countering with rookie right hander Brandon Cumpton. Who? That’s a good question. Cumpton was called up to replace the injured A.J. Burnett on the Buc’s roster. Cumpton will be making his major league debut today. Cumpton is 24 years old and originally from Georgia. In 13 games between triple-A Indianapolis, and double-A Altoona, Cumpton is 4-5 with a 3.31 ERA and 56 whiffs against 27 walks. Cumpton has a career 26-24 record, and 3.85 ERA in the minors, with a 5.8 whiff per nine rate. He was drafted by the Bucs in the ninth round of the 2010 MLB draft. That’s about all I know about Brandon Cumpton.

Juan Uribe-Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Dodgers are now a season low ten games under .500 at 28-38. Hopefully these next string of losses in Pittsburgh and New York will signal Dodger ownership to do what’s right and make some necessary changes. As you know, I have thrown in the towel on this season. Yes the Dodgers are done this season and will not be making the playoffs. They are nowhere near being a playoff level team. I think the team would benefit greatly from a new manager and voice in the clubhouse, and I would like to see half the roster purge. Of course I doubt that’s going to happen anytime soon. I mean after all, the club took months just to DFA Ramon Hernandez. Anyways, the Dodgers suck this season, but we will root for our Boys in Blue no matter how much they suck. Also note, Mattingly returns to the dugout after serving his one game suspension for his role in the brawl with the Snakes. Also returning will be Ronald Belisario who served his one game suspension as well.

This afternoon’s game will be on at 1:10PM and you can catch the game on KCAL 9. You can also catch our daily Dodger recap after the game as well on the Lasorda’s Lair channel. Which would be right here, and you don’t need a satellite, or Tivo to get us to appear on your browser. Tune in! Go Blue.