By Matt Rappa, Sports Talk Philly editor 
The Philadelphia Phillies (33-24) will look to avoid just their fifth series loss — out of 19 overall series this season — as they take on the National League-best Los Angeles Dodgers (39-19) and three-time Cy Young Award winner LHP Clayton Kershaw in the second of a three-game set Sunday evening at Dodger Stadium. Kershaw is undefeated this season through eight starts.
RELATED | Phillies to Use 'Opener' on Saturday Opposite Kershaw, Dodgers
The Phillies will start an "opener" for the first time, left-hander Jose Alvarez. Right-hander Zach Eflin was slated for the starting nod, however he was recently placed on the 10-day injured list due to experiencing back stiffness and spasms. Southpaw Cole Irvin was called up as the corresponding move, although he will not start in place of Eflin. Irvin and Vince Velasquez will be available in relief.
The @Dodgers offense is relentless. #WinningTogether pic.twitter.com/NNdINStaNB
— MLB (@MLB) June 1, 2019
The Phillies ended up using two relievers — Edgar Garcia (1 inning, 16 pitches) and Juan Nicasio (2 innings, 24 pitches) — in their 6-3 series opener loss. Despite losing, the Phillies still finished May by winning 17 of their 28 games; the club's 17 May wins were its most since its last National League pennant-clinching season in 2009. Andrew McCutchen launched his 10th home run in the loss, breaking up Dodgers starter Kenta Maeda's (W, 6 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 0 BB, 6 SO, HR) then-perfect game to start the fourth inning. Scott Kingery played at the hot corner and center field and hit two of the club's just five hits (four singles, home run) on offense. The Dodgers slugged four home runs, three being against Jake Arrieta, who fell to 5-5 (L, 5 IP, 10 H, 5 R, 5 ER, BB, 3 SO, 3 HR).
The Phillies have lost seven of their last 10 games at Dodgers Stadium, outscored 48-37 and outhit 98-80. The club's last series win at the venue came on April 21-24, 2014.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (33-24) | Los Angeles Dodgers (39-19) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LHP | Jose Alvarez | LHP | Clayton Kershaw | ||
| (0-1, 3.92 ERA) | (5-0, 3.46 ERA) | ||||
LHP Clayton Kershaw, Age: 31
- Career vs. PHI: 3-5, 3.07 ERA, 13 G, 13 GS, 82 IP, 66 H, 28 R, 28 ER, 6 HR, 22 BB, 91 SO, 1.073 WHIP
- Career at Dodger Stadium: 87-34, 2.12 ERA, 169 G, 169 GS, 1,145 1/3 IP, 823 H, 300 R, 270 ER, 78 HR, 276 BB, 1,272 SO, 0.960 WHIP
Only two teams have a winning record against Kershaw — the Texas Rangers (1.000, 1 G) and the Phillies (.625, 13 G). Through six regular season games opposite the seven-time All-Star at Dodger Stadium — dating as far back as August 2008 — the Phillies have slugged three home runs and 10 doubles spanning 39 1/3 innings, albeit striking out 49 times.
This season, Kershaw is coming off a month of May in which he went 4-0 despite posting a 4.22 ERA; he has been helped by the Dodgers offense, who scored at least six runs in each of his four winning decisions in the month.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (33-24) | Los Angeles Dodgers (39-19) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Player | Bats | Position | Player | Bats | ||
| 1 | LF | Andrew McCutchen | R | 1 | 1B | David Freese | R |
| 2 | SS | Jean Segura | R | 2 | 3B | Max Muncy | L |
| 3 | RF | Bryce Harper | L | 3 | LF | Chris Taylor | R |
| 4 | 1B | Rhys Hoskins | R | 4 | RF | Cody Bellinger | L |
| 5 | C | J.T. Realmuto | R | 5 | 2B | Enrique Hernandez | R |
| 6 | CF | Scott Kingery | R | 6 | SS | Corey Seager | L |
| 7 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 7 | CF | Alex Verdugo | L |
| 8 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 8 | C | Will Smith | R |
| 9 | P | Jose Alvarez | L | 9 | P | Clayton Kershaw | L |
Broadcast Information:
- First pitch: 10:10 p.m.
- TV: NBCSP
- Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
Game Notes:
- Despite losing on Friday, the Phillies still retained three-game lead over the Atlanta Braves in the National League East. The Braves will start rookie RHP Mike Soroka (5-1, 1.07 ERA) in their interleague home game against LHP Daniel Norris (2-3, 4.18 ERA) and the Detroit Tigers.
- Active Dodgers Hitting Streaks:
- Cody Bellinger: 8 G, 33 AB, 7 R, 10 H, 3 HR, 8 RBI, 5 BB, 2 SO, .303/.395/.667
- Corey Seager: 7 G, 28 AB< 8 R, 10 H, 3 HR, 9 RBI, 4 BB, 4 SO, .357/.455/.786
- David Freese: 6 G, 15 AB, 6 R, 8 H, HR, 4 RBI, 3 BB, 4 SO, .533/.611/.867
- Phillies 2019 season series record: 11-4-3.
- Phillies right fielder Bryce Harper is just 2-for-21 lifetime against Kershaw with a single, home run, two RBI and 13 strikeouts (.095/.095/.238). The red-hot McCutchen, meanwhile, is 11-for-36 in his career opposite the southpaw with three doubles, a home run, five RBI, two walks and six strikeouts (.306/.342/.472) (click to expand).
What's Next:
- Sunday, June 2, 2019: at Los Angeles Dodgers, 4:10 p.m.
- Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, Calif.
- RHP Nick Pivetta (3-1, 7.71 ERA) vs. LHP Rich Hill (1-1, 2.73 ERA)
- TV: NBCSP; Radio: SportsRadio 94 WIP
