Dodgers Preview: Kershaw Returns as Dodgers Host Angels for Three-Game Set

LOS ANGELES— After smashing the former “Oakland” Athletics to start their six-game homestand, the Los Angeles Dodgers welcome their Freeway Rival, the Los Angeles Angels, for Major League Baseball’s inaugural Rivalry Weekend.

The Dodgers head into Friday’s game with the best record in Major League Baseball, 29-15, and an astounding record at Dodger Stadium this season of 17-4, also a Major League best.

The Dodgers have won six of their last ten games, including a series split over the Arizona Diamondbacks and yesterday’s series win over the Athletics, where the offense piled on nineteen runs in the series finale.

The reigning National League Most Valuable Player, Shohei Ohtani, will face his former club as he enters his second season in Dodger Blue. Ohtani tormented his former team, the Angels, with a combined .286/.444/.857 slash line, 1.302 OPS, two home runs, and five RBIs in five games against the Halos.

The Dodgers’ offense has been much more balanced as we enter mid-May. Whether it’s the speed and defense from Hyeseong Kim, the new rookie catcher Dalton Rushing, who scored three runs last night, or the top of the lineup all playing at an MVP level, including Ohtani, who smashed two home runs on bobblehead night.

The Dodgers’ pitching rotation is also set to get a massive boost with the return of eighteen-year veteran Clayton Kershaw, who will be activated off the 60-day injured list on Saturday and start.

While all is going well for the Dodgers right now, the same cannot be said for the Angels.

Entering today, the Angels sit in last place in the American League West at 17-25, six games out of first place and winners of just four of their last ten games played.

They enter this series without two of their important players: Mike Trout and Ben Joyce. Their pitching has been horrid, with a 5.09 ERA, the sixth-worst team ERA in baseball. Their offense hasn’t been better, ranking fifth-worst with a combined 83 wRC+.

Pitching match-ups 

Game One: Dustin May (1-3, 4.08 ERA) vs Jack Kochanowicz (2-5, 5.23 ERA)

Game Two: Clayton Kershaw (LHP) (0-0, 0.00 ERA) vs Tyler Anderson (LHP) (2-1, 2.58 ERA)

Game Three: Tony Gonsolin (2-0, 2.81 ERA) vs Yusei Kikuchi (LHP) (0-4, 3.72 ERA)

Game Times

Game One: 7:10 PM PT, SportsNet LA, FanDuel Sports Network West, MLB Network (out-of-market-only)

Game Two: 6:10 PM PT, SportsNet LA, FanDuel Sports Network West, MLB Network (out-of-market-only)

Game Three: 1:10 PM PT, SportsNet LA, FanDuel Sports Network West

Who’s in & who’s out?

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been beaten to a pulp with injuries so far this season, and it’s only mid-May. However, over the next several days, multiple stars are expected to make their return.

Tommy Edman and Teoscar Hernández, both out since early May, are inching closer to a return. Last weekend, Edman stated that his ankle was about 80% healed, and the utilityman has continued baseball activities, including taking multiple live at-bats.

Hernández has also resumed baseball activities and was seen sprinting around the basepaths during pregame warmups this week. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts stated that Hernández would likely need a rehab assignment before he returns from the injured list, but Tommy Edman will not.

As mentioned already, Dodgers veteran left-handed starter Clayton Kershaw is expected to be activated off the 60-day injured list on Saturday. Kershaw, 37, appeared in five minor league rehab starts, posting a 2.57 ERA in thirty-one innings pitched and collecting sixteen punchouts despite battling inconsistent velocity.

Left-handed starting pitcher Blake Snell was also cleared by team doctors to begin his throwing program and was seen throwing about 60 feet out this week. Tyler Glasnow has also resumed throwing, but Dave Roberts does not know when either will throw off a mound.

Dodgers right-handed relief pitcher Michael Kopech has also continued his minor league rehab assignment with mixed results so far, as the righty has allowed eight runs in 1.2 innings pitched.

10-day Injured List (2): Tommy Edman, Teoscar Hernández

15-day Injured List (4): Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Evan Phillips, Roki Sasaki

60-day Injured List (10): Clayton Kershaw, Brusdar Graterol, Michael Grove, Gavin Stone, River Ryan, Kyle Hurt, Emmet Sheehan, Edgardo Henriquez, Blake Treinen, Michael Kopech

The Los Angeles Angels have suffered a massive blow this past week in their bullpen, losing dominant closer Ben Joyce to season-ending shoulder surgery.

The team is also without their Captain, as three-time American League Most Valuable Player Award winner Mike Trout is still nursing a left knee bone bruise that has sidelined him since May 2nd.

10-day Injured List (1): Mike Trout

15-day Injured List (2): Sam Bachman, Garrett McDaniels

60-day Injured List (3): Robert Stephenson, Anthony Rendon, Ben Joyce

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