Looking to bounce back from Thursday’s 7-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs, the Los Angeles Dodgers send Clayton Kershaw to the mound for his first start of the spring against the Kansas City Royals at Surprise Stadium.
The left-hander is scheduled to throw two innings in the contest, which will air on ESPN and SportsNet LA. The game will go a full nine innings, presumably because it was selected for a national broadcast.
Kershaw facing the Royals was one of two options the Dodgers were considering after his latest bullpen session on Tuesday. The other scenario called for him to throw another round of live batting practice.
The soon-to-be-33-year-old is in good health as he enters the final year of a contract extension signed in 2018. Kershaw looks to build off a resurgent 2020 campaign in which he finished 6-2 with a 2.16 ERA, 3.31 FIP and 0.84 WHIP in 58.1 innings pitched (10 games).
Kershaw went on to post a 4-1 record, 2.93 ERA, 0.91 WHIP and 37 strikeouts in five postseason starts. He was particularly dominant in the World Series, winning Games 1 and 5 while limiting the Tampa Bay Rays to a combined three runs over 11.2 innings pitched.
The Royals counter with Brad Keller, who is coming off a breakout 2020 season that saw him pitch to a 5-3 record, 2.47 ERA, 3.43 FIP and 1.02 WHIP over 54.2 innings (five starts).
Mookie Betts and Corey Seager return to the top of the Dodgers lineup for a second consecutive game. Justin Turner, Max Muncy, Will Smith and Chris Taylor are other regulars playing as well. Betts and Seager are the first everyday starters to play in back-to-back Cactus League games.
Andre Jackson, Mike Kickham, James Pazos, Enny Romero and Alex Vesia are among the Dodgers pitchers expected to follow Kershaw throughout the afternoon matchup.
Dodgers lineup
RF: Mookie Betts
SS: Corey Seager
3B: Justin Turner
1B: Max Muncy
C: Will Smith
CF: Chris Taylor
2B: Gavin Lux
LF: Matt Beaty
DH: Luke Raley
Royals lineup
RF: Whit Merrifield
SS: Adalberto Mondesi
1B: Carlos Santana
C: Salvador Perez
3B: Hunter Dozier
CF: Michael A. Taylor
DH: Ryan McBroom
LF: Bubba Starling
2B: Nicky Lopez
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