Dodgers at Diamondbacks
Clayton Kershaw already has matched last season's loss total, but the left-handed ace faces the lone team he has beaten this season when the Los Angeles Dodgers visit the Arizona Diamondbacks on Tuesday for the middle contest of their three-game series. Kershaw allowed one run and two hits while registering a season-best 12 strikeouts in seven innings of a victory over Arizona on April 15.
Kershaw has allowed seven runs over 12 innings while losing his last two turns to see his record fall to 1-4. He will try to cool down A.J. Pollock, who slugged three homers for the first time in his career in Monday's 8-5 victory, which represents the Diamondbacks' sixth win in seven meetings with Los Angeles this season. The Dodgers also were dealt a major blow with the news that shortstop Corey Seager's constant elbow pain will require season-ending Tommy John surgery. "It was hurting worse, but I couldn't tell if that was just from how recent it was," Seager told reporters prior to Monday's game. "You obviously don't hope for what it turned out to be, but I was hoping for inflammation."
TV: 9:40 p.m. ET, SportsNet LA (Los Angeles), FS Arizona
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (1-4, 2.84 ERA) vs. Diamondbacks RH Matt Koch (1-0, 1.93)
Kershaw lost to Miami in his last outing as he gave up three runs on five hits and a career high-tying six walks in five innings. The 30-year-old issued just three free passes over 33 frames in his first five starts before the outing that prompted Kershaw to say, "I just wasn't very good." Kershaw also lost to the Diamondbacks on April 3, when he gave up two runs and four hits over six innings, and is 15-9 with a 2.51 ERA in 28 career starts against Arizona.
Koch is making his third start of the season after working six solid innings in each of the first two. The 27-year-old settled for a no-decision against San Diego on April 20, when he gave up one run and two hits, and followed that outing by allowing two runs and six hits en route to a win over Philadelphia. Koch, who has posted a stellar 0.86 WHIP and .167 opponents' batting average this season, picked up his first major-league win with a scoreless inning of relief against the Dodgers on Sept. 18, 2016.
WALK-OFFS
1. Diamondbacks LF David Peralta (hand) departed Monday's game after being hit by a pitch and is day-to-day after X-rays were negative.
2. Arizona placed LHP Robbie Ray (oblique) on the 10-day disabled list and recalled RHP Silvino Bracho from Triple-A Reno.
3. Los Angeles recalled INF Breyvic Valera from Triple-A Oklahoma City to fill Seager's roster spot.