Dodgers at Athletics
After completing what manager Bob Melvin called an “embarrassing” road trip, the Oakland Athletics return home Tuesday to face the Los Angeles Dodgers and ace Clayton Kershaw. The Athletics are coming off a winless seven-game trek and face an uphill battle against the Dodgers, who have won five of their last six and hold a three-game lead over second-place San Francisco in the National League West.
Billy Butler went 4-for-21 on the road trip for the Athletics, who own the American League’s worst record at 51-69 and figure to be tired after traveling overnight from Baltimore, where they were swept of a four-game series. “It doesn’t seem like it’s the right thing to do as far as having to travel cross-country and play again (Tuesday),” Melvin told reporters. “That’s just my feeling.” The Dodgers are beginning an eight-game road trip with a short flight and hope to improve on their 25-31 record away from home. Los Angeles has received a surprising spark from utilityman Kike Hernandez, who is batting .415 over his last 15 games.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), CSN California (Oakland)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (10-6, 2.39 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Felix Doubront (1-1, 4.59)
Kershaw tied Sandy Koufax’s franchise record of six straight 200-strikeout seasons while tossing eight scoreless innings against Washington on Wednesday. The reigning NL Cy Young Award winner and MVP is unbeaten in his last seven starts and owns a 65-to-5 strikeout-to-walk ratio over that span. Kershaw is facing Oakland for the first time since June 21, 2012, when he allowed one run in eight frames but settled for a no-decision.
Doubront is moving back into the rotation after yielding two runs over 6 1/3 innings of relief against Toronto on Wednesday. The 27-year-old is looking to settle in with the Athletics after pitching earlier this season for the Chicago Cubs and Blue Jays, who dealt him to Oakland at the trade deadline. Adrian Gonzalez has homered in each of his two at-bats against Doubront, who owns an 11.05 ERA in two career starts versus the Dodgers.
WALK-OFFS
1. Athletics OF Coco Crisp missed Monday’s game due to hip and ankle soreness but could return for Tuesday’s contest.
2. The Dodgers announced that Ron Roenicke will replace Lorenzo Bundy as the team’s third base coach, starting with Tuesday’s game. Bundy will continue to coordinate the Dodgers’ outfield defense.
3. Oakland LHP Sean Doolittle (shoulder) is not expected to rejoin the team until early next week.