Having split the first two of the current four-game series, the Philadelphia Phillies (29-57) and the Los Angeles Dodgers (47-38) will face each other again tonight in National League baseball at Dodger Stadium.
Starting Pitching Matchup:
| Philadelphia Phillies (29-57) | Los Angeles Dodgers (47-38) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LHP | Adam Morgan | LHP | Clayton Kershaw | ||
| (1-1, 2.13 ERA) | (5-6, 3.08 ERA) | ||||
Morgan, 25, will be making his third career start. Combined this season in 12.2 innings, he has surrendered just three runs on 11 hits and four walks.
The Phillies' southpaw suffered a tough loss in his most recent start, on July 3 at Atlanta. Morgan only surrendered two runs: solo blasts to left fielder Jonny Gomes in the second inning and third baseman Juan Uribe in the seventh.
During Morgan's major league debut on June 21 against the Cardinals, which resulted in a victory, his only run allowed over 5.2 innings was also a solo home run, which came off the bat of shortstop Jhonny Perlata. He threw two scoreless innings on Saturday, June 27, before the game was postponed due to rain. Statistics from this game are unofficial, however.
Opposing Morgan will be four-time All-Star, three-time Cy Young Award winner, and 2014 National League Most Valuable Player, Clayton Kershaw.
A starting pitcher's win-loss record is often said to not be fully representative of their effectiveness on the mound. That is surely the case for Kershaw and his atypical .455 W-L% this season.
In his six losing decisions this season, Kershaw has received an average of just 1.3 runs of support, while allowing an average of 3.0 runs.
For the Dodgers, who have a league-leading $267,084,243 payroll, they must rectify this glaringly obvious, offensive woe if they wish this October to win their first World Series championship since 1988.
Kershaw is 0-3 over his last five starts, dating back to June 12, with a 2.41 ERA. He currently leads the National League in strikeouts (147), and strikeouts per nine innings (11.6).
In ten career starts against the Phillies, he is 2-4 with a 3.34 ERA over 62.0 innings.
Starting Lineups:
| Philadelphia Phillies (29-57) | Los Angeles Dodgers (47-38) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Position | Batter | Bats | Position | Batter | Bats | ||
| 1 | 2B | Cesar Hernandez | S | 1 | RF | Yasiel Puig | R |
| 2 | CF | Odubel Herrera | L | 2 | 2B | Howie Kendrick | R |
| 3 | 3B | Maikel Franco | R | 3 | 3B | Justin Turner | R |
| 4 | 1B | Darin Ruf | R | 4 | 1B | Adrian Gonzalez | L |
| 5 | LF | Jeff Francoeur | R | 5 | LF | Scott Van Slyke | R |
| 6 | C | Carlos Ruiz | R | 6 | CF | Joc Pederson | L |
| 7 | SS | Freddy Galvis | S | 7 | SS | Jimmy Rollins | S |
| 8 | RF | Domonic Brown | L | 8 | C | A.J. Ellis | R |
| 9 | P | Adam Morgan | L | 9 | P | Clayton Kershaw | L |
Game Notes:
- Outfielder Jeff Francoeur was a large contributor in Tuesday night's commanding 7-2 victory over left hander Brett Anderson. Over his last five, completed games in the field, the 31-year-old is batting .300/.333/.650 with two home runs and five runs-batted-in.
- In Clayton Kershaw's last two starts against the Phillies, on August 17, 2013 and May 23, 2014, he has thrown a combined 14 shutout innings, allowing just five hits and four walks.
- Excluding second baseman Chase Utley, who is on the disabled list with inflammation in his right ankle, current Phillies batters have a career .262 batting average against Kershaw.
Broadcast Information:
- First-pitch: 10:10 pm EST
- TV: CSN
- Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
What's Next:
- Thursday, July 9, 2015: at Los Angeles Dodgers, 10:10 pm
- RHP Severino Gonzalez (3-2, 8.28 ERA) vs. RHP Zach Greinke (7-2, 1.48 ERA)
- TV: CSN; Radio: 94 WIP, 1210 WPHT, WTTM 1680 (Sp.)
Matt Rappa (@mattrappa) is managing editor of Philliedelphia.com.
