Atlanta @ Los Angeles preview
Dodger Stadium
Last Meeting ( Jun 3, 2010 ) Atlanta 4, LA Dodgers 3
The Atlanta Braves just can't seem to lose, which should be good news for Kenshin Kawakami since he just can't buy a win.
The streaking Braves look to continue their winning ways and get Kawakami his first win of the season tonight when they take on the Los Angeles Dodgers in the second game of a four-game set.
Atlanta has vaulted to the top of the National League East Division standings due in part to its current nine-game winning streak. The Braves picked up win No. 9 Thursday by taking the series opener from the Dodgers 4-3.
The Braves haven't loss since a 6-4 setback to the Florida Marlins on May 25. The losing pitcher in that one? You guessed it, Kawakami. Atlanta has actually won three of Kawakami's last four starts but the right-hander has no-decisions in all three wins.
Kawakami (0-7, 4.66 ERA) lost his first six decisions and was getting little run support. Atlanta scored three runs or fewer in those first six outings, including a pair of shutouts. Lately it has been a different story as the Braves have scored four runs or more in Kawakami's last four starts.
The road has not been kind to Kawakami, who has suffered six of his seven losses away from home. He will be making his second career start against the Dodgers. In his first outing against Los Angeles, Kawakami tossed seven shutout innings and allowed only four hits.
Clayton Kershaw (5-3, 2.95) gets the call for Los Angeles and looks to continue what has been a solid season.
The 22-year-old Texan has won four of his last five starts and has allowed more than two runs just once all season. With 72 strikeouts in 64 innings, it's obvious Kershaw has dominant stuff and he has yielded just five runs - four earned - in his five starts since allowing seven runs in a loss to the Milwaukee Brewers on May 4.
The Dodgers may need Kershaw to keep being stingy because they have not been able to score many runs of their own of late. The Dodgers had scored 11 runs in their four-game winning streak that was snapped Thursday, including just two in a pair of 1-0 wins over Arizona.
Kershaw has made one career start against Atlanta and did not figure in the decision. He did strike out 10 with just one walk and two hits in seven scoreless innings.