The Dodgers begin a brief road trip through a pair of divisional foes Monday night in San Diego. Clayton Kershaw gets the start for the Dodgers in the series opener against the Padres at Petco Park, looking for his fifth straight win. Cory Luebke starts on the mound for San Diego.
Kershaw is 6-1 in his last eight starts with a 1.63 ERA, and he has 71 strikeouts against just 11 walks in 60 2/3 innings during that span. Kershaw has four double-digit strikeout games in his last seven, and six such games on the season. He leads the National League with 173 strikeouts and is just six behind Justin Verlander for the major league lead.
Luebke began the year in the bullpen, but was added to the rotation at the end of June. In six starts this season, Luebke has a 2.57 ERA and opposing batters are hitting just .190/.231/.373 against him. He faced the Dodgers in relief on April 8, pitching four innings in a game that featured several hours of rain delays and wasn't completed until the next day.
Kershaw has yet to face the Padres this season. The Dodgers are 6-3 against the Padres this season, including taking two of three in San Diego back in April. The Padres have lost three straight series and four of their last five series, and are 7-15 in their last 22 games.
Tonight's 7:05 p.m. PDT game will be televised by Prime Ticket. For more news and information on the Dodgers, or on tonight's game, be sure to read True Blue LA.