Los Angeles @ Philadelphia preview
Citizens Bank Park
Last Meeting ( Aug 16, 2013 ) LA Dodgers 4, Philadelphia 0
The Los Angeles Dodgers have a chance to make history while the Philadelphia Phillies are just looking to stop the bleeding. Should the visiting Dodgers claim their season-best 10th straight victory on Saturday, they'll become the third team in the last 100 years to win 42 of 50 games - joining the 1941 New York Yankees and 1942 St. Louis Cardinals. They faced little resistance from Philadelphia on Friday as Los Angeles breezed to a 4-0 triumph and extended its lead to 8 1/2 games over Arizona in the National League West.
Prior to their 20th setback in 24 outings, the Phillies fired the winningest manager in franchise history when they let go of the affable Charlie Manuel. Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg certainly got an eyeful as the team mustered just three hits before being shut out for the 11th time this season. "These guys are professional players, they're getting paid well," Sandberg said. "Sometimes players have to dig deeper, play with pride, play with heart and for the name on the front of the uniform."
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, KCAL (Los Angeles), CSN (Philadelphia)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Dodgers LH Clayton Kershaw (11-7, 1.88 ERA) vs. Phillies RH Kyle Kendrick (10-9, 4.48)
Kershaw has dominated most opponents, but the Phillies have had his number. The 2011 NL Cy Young Award winner has dropped all four decisions to Philadelphia while recording a 4.31 ERA in eight career starts. Kershaw improved to 6-2 in his last nine starts after permitting two runs on three hits over eight innings in an 8-2 triumph versus Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Kendrick has cooled off after a sizzling start, dropping three of four while yielding 21 runs in 18 1/3 innings. The 28-year-old allowed six runs on 11 hits in 4 1/3 innings en route to a 6-0 setback to Washington on Sunday. Kendrick saw his career mark against Los Angeles leveled at 5-5 after getting touched for four runs on 10 hits in a 6-1 loss on June 30.
WALK-OFFS
1. Los Angeles SS Hanley Ramirez, who belted a two-run homer on Friday, collected his second straight multi-hit game since returning to the starting lineup (sore right shoulder).
2. Philadelphia placed LHP John Lannan on the disabled list with left knee tendinosis and recalled B.J. Rosenberg from Triple-A Lehigh Valley.
3. Dodgers OF Andre Ethier was held out of the starting lineup for the third straight game as he nurses a bruised left calf.
PREDICTION: Dodgers 7, Phillies 1