Notebook: Injury updates, Kershaw duels Scherzer, upcoming rotation
It will be anything but a calm Sunday afternoon at Dodger Stadium.
Two of the most decorated and competitive pitchers in baseball will face off when Clayton Kershaw and the Dodgers look to sweep the weekend series against Max Scherzer and the Nationals.
“The level of compete from both these guys is next level,” said manager Dave Roberts. “Obviously when they’re opposing one another, if at all possible it might be heightened that much more.”
Roberts said these types of matchups tend to bring out a little more in the starting pitchers. Kershaw is coming off the better of his first two starts of the season, allowing one run in seven innings in Oakland.
Sunday will be the third regular season matchup between Kershaw and Scherzer. The first was a 5–3 Dodger win against the Diamondbacks in Kershaw’s rookie season in 2008. Scherzer responded with a 5–2 win 10 years later in April 2018. They’ve also met once in the postseason in a 4–3 Dodger win in Game 1 of the 2016 National League Division Series.
Starting pitching has helped lead the way for the Dodgers while winning seven of their last eight games. Since April 3, Dodger starters are 5–0 with a 1.83 ERA.
“You want to play well for your aces,” Roberts said.
Behind Kershaw will be a new defensive alignment. Edwin Ríos is making his first career start in right field, while Zach McKinstry shifts from right field to left field.
Injury Updates
Mookie Betts remains out of the lineup with back stiffness. Roberts said he hasn’t gotten any updates on Betts since last night, but he expects Betts to run, play catch, get treatment on Monday’s off day and see if he will be available Tuesday.
Roberts said Betts, who has missed the last three Dodger games, has not received an injection on his back.
Moving around starters, May in Rockies series and Buehler extra days: “There’s going to be pitching gymnastics all year for our club. Number one, because we have a lot of talent. Number two, we want to make sure we manage the usage.”
Roberts also said Tony Gonsolin, who is on the injured list, is still experiencing shoulder soreness and appears to be “a ways away” from a return.
Upcoming Rotation
With Kershaw pitching on Sunday and Trevor Bauer, Dustin May and Julio Urías lined up for the midweek series against the Padres, that sets up Walker Buehler, Kershaw and Bauer to pitch next weekend in San Diego.
“Making sure guys are rested and feeling good going into a particular series is the ultimate goal,” Roberts said. “It’s a division rival. I think any division opponent, you want to play well.”
