Los Angeles @ Oakland preview

LA Dodgers at Oakland

Last Meeting ( Jun 20, 2012 ) LA Dodgers 1, Oakland 4

Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw insists that a bout of plantar fasciitis has not affected his pitching, but the reigning National League Cy Young Award winner's recent performances suggest the injury may be more of a hindrance than he says. The Dodgers will send Kershaw to the mound as they look to avoid a sweep in Thursday's series finale against the Oakland Athletics. Kershaw has won just once in his last five starts and has seen his ERA risen nearly a full run during that span.

Winners of seven of their last eight, the Athletics have received two superb pitching performances to hold the Dodgers to one run. Yoenis Cespedes made an immediate impact in his return to Oakland's lineup with two hits and an RBI. He had only one at-bat in the previous 10 games due to a strained left hamstring. Brandon Moss hit his seventh homer in 13 games with the A's, six of which have come in the last eight contests.

TV: 3:35 p.m. ET, KCAL (Los Angeles), CSCA (Oakland)

PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (5-3, 2.86 ERA) vs. Athletics LH Travis Blackley (1-2, 4.60)

Kershaw allowed a season high-tying five runs on eight hits in six innings against the Chicago White Sox last time out. Although he did not factor in the decision, Kershaw surrendered a pair of home runs, giving him 10 for the season. Those are uncharacteristic numbers for Kershaw, who yielded only 13 homers last season and 15 in 2010 while making 33 and 32 starts, respectively.

Blackley will be looking to build on his first major-league win in eight years after limiting San Diego to two runs on five hits in six innings last time out. Claimed off waivers from San Francisco last month, Blackley turned in his longest outing in his fourth start with Oakland. He did not fare well in two relief appearances vs. the Dodgers this season, giving up five runs in two innings.

WALK-OFFS

1. Dodgers RF Andre Ethier, the NL leader in RBIs, is batting .153 (9-for-59) in his last 16 games. His average has dropped from .327 to .286 in that span.

2. Oakland has won 11 of 13 interleague meetings at home against the Dodgers.

3. Los Angeles has been swept only once this season, losing four straight at Milwaukee at the end of May.