Mets 2 - 1 Dodgers
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Jul 2, 2015 - 10:33 PM Even after losing three straight starts for the first time ever, Clayton Kershaw might be in line for a shut-down performance.

He'll look to remain undefeated against the slumping New York Mets on Friday night when they visit the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Kershaw (5-6, 3.20 ERA) can't be blamed too much for the longest losing streak of his career - during which he's also extended his streak of quality starts to seven. The left-hander is averaging 2.6 runs of support while going 1-3 in his last five, and he's received three runs of support or fewer in 11 of 16 outings this year.

Dingy defense didn't help Kershaw's cause his last time out, either. Errors by Andre Ethier and Joc Pederson cost him two unearned runs in addition to the one earned he surrendered over seven innings in Saturday's 3-2 loss at Miami.

"I think winning, in general, is what Clayton's all about," manager Don Mattingly said. "I don't know if it's weighing on him. He may show frustration at the time, but when he gets away from it, I think he knows he pitched really well and gave us a really good chance to win."

Kershaw, who ranks second in baseball with 77 wins since 2011, had dropped back-to-back starts eight times in his previous seven seasons.

"It never feels good to lose," he told MLB's official website. "But I'm fine."

He's 5-0 with a 1.62 ERA in seven starts versus New York, allowing one earned run over 23 innings against them at Dodger Stadium.

The Mets (40-40) totaled one run and 15 hits while suffering a three-game sweep to the Cubs this week. They're averaging a major league-worst 1.6 runs per game since June 17, dropping 10 of 14.

Curtis Granderson is the only Met batting better than .163 while playing more than seven games in that stretch, and he's hitting .364 over his last 11. Lucas Duda is 5 for 35 with 16 strikeouts in his last nine and 0 for 4 off Kershaw with three strikeouts.

"They are so tense and so tight and so worried about making a big out instead of walking up there like they're going to get a hit," manager Terry Collins said. "We got to lighten it up, so I said just for heaven's sakes play the game with some fun, with some energy, with some enthusiasm."

Los Angeles (45-35) closed its 10-game trip by winning six of eight, including a 4-3 victory at Arizona on Wednesday. Howie Kendrick is 14 for 28 with eight RBIs during a seven-game hitting streak, while Jimmy Rollins, batting a career-worst .212, is at .295 over his last 11 contests.

The Dodgers will face Noah Syndergaard (3-4, 3.59), who threw a season-high eight innings Friday versus Cincinnati to end a four-start winless streak. He limited the Reds to one run in a 2-1 victory, after which Collins said it was the rookie's best performance "without question."

"And against a very, very good lineup," he said. "Very, very good outing."

Syndergaard is 0-3 with a 6.52 ERA in four road starts.

The Dodgers have won 13 of the last 16 meetings, including four of six last season.

Adrian Gonzalez is 25 for 64 (.391) with four homers, six doubles and 18 RBIs in his last 16 games versus New York.






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