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| 7:10 PM PT8:10 PM MT9:10 PM CT10:10 PM ET22:10 ET2:10 GMT10:10 7:10 PM MST9:10 PM EST9:40 PM VEN6:10 UAE (+1)8:10 PM CT, June 2, 2023 Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, California Attendance: 52,534 |
Playoff contenders Yankees, Dodgers renew rivalry
New York Yankees at Los Angeles Dodgers
- The Yankees and Dodgers have played only 16 games against each other since interleague play began in 1997 with each team winning eight times. The Yankees won two of the three games in their most recent series (Aug. 23-25, 2019 in Los Angeles).
- The Yankees lost, 1-0, at Seattle on Wednesday after winning their previous three games by scores of 10-7, 10-4 and 10-2. It was first time in Yankees history they were shut out after scoring at least 10 runs in each of their previous three or more games (27 prior instances).
- Luis Severino allowed only one hit in 6.2 innings in his no-decision start against the Padres on Saturday, a solo homer by Fernando Tatis Jr. It was the sixth start of Severino's career in which he pitched at least six innings and gave up no more than one hit.
- The Dodgers had a major-league best 82-4 (.953) record in games in which they scored five or more runs last season, winning their last 41 such games. They're 28-8 (.778) in games in which they scored five or more runs this year (6-5 in such games since May 18).
- Freddie Freeman led MLB in May in hits (46), extra-base hits (24), runs (28) and RBI (26). Since 1938, only four other players equaled or bettered each of those totals in one month: Stan Musial (August 1948), Frank Robinson (July 1961), Rafael Palmeiro (July 1993) and Richard Hidalgo (September 2000).
- Clayton Kershaw is 0-1 with a 1.67 ERA in his four games against the Yankees. He allowed only 14 hits and no walks over 27.0 innings in those four games. The Yankees are the only opposing team that Kershaw has never beaten in his 16-season MLB career.
Cross-country rivals -- who have met in the World Series 11 times during their storied histories -- will reconnect for a three-game series starting Friday when the Los Angeles Dodgers play host to the New York Yankees.
The clubs have not met for a title since 1981 but are playoff contenders again this season, and they each get an early chance to test themselves against a top team.
The Dodgers are in first place in the National League West. Although they just completed a disappointing 4-6 road trip, they have won 13 of their last 15 home games after taking two of three from the Washington Nationals.
The Yankees are in third place in the American League East but are getting healthy again with outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, third baseman Josh Donaldson and right-hander Tommy Kahnle all expected to be activated in advance of the series. New York has the third-best road record in the AL at 15-11.
As well as the Dodgers have played, especially after a slow start in April, pitching issues persist. Left-hander Clayton Kershaw will start the series opener Friday, but injuries will necessitate that rookies Michael Grove and Bobby Miller start Saturday and Sunday, respectively.
In Wednesday's loss to the Nationals, Dodgers starter Noah Syndergaard saw his struggles continue, while reliever Brusdar Graterol coughed up a late lead. Manager Dave Roberts was non-committal on whether Syndergaard would make his next start.
"We've been very good typically at preventing runs (but) certain guys just aren't doing it," Roberts said. "We're evaluating all the time. So as we keep running guys out there, we'll have some decisions to make. But ultimately, players make the decisions. It's not me or this organization. And that decision is on performance."
The Yankees have seen Stanton and Donaldson play just 18 games combined this season because of hamstring injuries. Kahnle (biceps) has not pitched at all after spending last season with the Dodgers.
"They've all been doing pretty well here for a while and have been able to do a lot of physical work to get themselves prepared," Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. "For the most part, I feel like they're ready to go."
Stanton is a Los Angeles-area native who grew up watching games from the Dodger Stadium bleachers. He won the All-Star Game MVP in the ballpark last season after hitting a home run in a 3-2 American League victory.
Stanton played in just one rehab game at Double-A Somerset, after not playing in a major league game since April 15.
"There's so many tools we have now that you can replicate (game situations) better than ever," Boone said. "In Giancarlo's case, he's been doing a lot of physical stuff as far as outfield work and the running buildup."
New York has been erratic on offense, scoring one run in consecutive defeats last week against the Baltimore Orioles and San Diego Padres, then scoring 10 runs in three consecutive games this week against the Padres and Seattle Mariners. But the Yankees were shut out 1-0 by Seattle on Wednesday to end a four-game winning streak.
Kershaw (6-4, 3.32 ERA) will make his fifth career start against the Yankees. He does not have a win against them but does have a 1.67 ERA over 27 innings.
The Yankees will counter with right-hander Luis Severino (0-0, 1.59), who will be making his third start of the season after a lat injury. Severino faced the Dodgers just once in a scoreless two-inning relief outing in 2016.
--Field Level Media
Updated June 2, 2023
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