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Dodgers aim to handle Tigers, Scherzer

Jun 21, 2011 - 3:03 PM (Sports Network) - The Los Angeles Dodgers can wrap up just their second series victory this month with a win tonight versus the Detroit Tigers in the second installment of a three-game series from Chavez Ravine.

The Dodgers posted their second straight win with Monday's 4-0 blanking of the Tigers in the series opener behind Clayton Kershaw's two-hit shutout and 11 strikeouts. The lefty walked just one batter in his second two-hit shutout of the season and leads the majors with 117 K's. Kershaw was able to hit both sides of the plate with battery mate Dioner Navarro.

"I felt good," said Kershaw, who also drove in two runs. "(Navarro) and I were on the same page tonight. I threw a lot of changeups and worked out. It was fun tonight."

Juan Uribe homered, James Loney went 3-for-4 with two runs scored and Navarro knocked in a run for the Dodgers, who are 2-5 on a season-long 12-game, 14-day homestand and haven't won three in a row since closing out the month of May with three consecutive victories. LA's last series win was at Cincinnati from June 3-5.

The Dodgers will also welcome the Angels to Chavez Ravine on this residency.

Chad Billingsley hopes to get back on track when he takes the LA rubber tonight, aiming to even his season record at 6-6. He has dropped two straight starts since a personal three-game winning streak and is only 3-5 in his previous eight decisions.

Billingsley started his current slide with 4 2/3 innings of work in a 6-5 loss at Colorado on June 10. He allowed six runs that day and followed the outing with Wednesday's 7-2 setback versus Cincinnati, as he was reached for seven runs and nine hits in four innings of work. He fell to 5-6 in 15 starts and raised his ERA from 4.13 to 4.65.

The right-hander defeated the Tigers in his only appearance against them in a 4-1 victory last May 21, when he tossed seven innings of one-run ball.

Detroit is still one game behind Cleveland for the AL Central lead after both teams lost last night. It has dropped four of its last six games and couldn't figure out a way to solve Kershaw.

"Doesn't matter what part of the order was up tonight," Tigers manager Jim Leyland said. "We got two hits. I mean, it's that simple. There's really nothing to say. You can't be mad about a game like this."

Casper Wells and Ryan Raburn provided the hits for Detroit, while losing pitcher and former Dodger Brad Penny suffered the hard-luck defeat for giving up only two runs in six innings. Daniel Schlereth gave up two more in relief.

The Tigers are 1-3 on a six-game road trip that concludes tomorrow afternoon and are expected to give slugging first baseman Miguel Cabrera the day off to rest. Victor Martinez is expected to take over at first base Tuesday and went 0-for-3 at the plate. The catcher entered Monday's play hitting .388 with two homers and 14 RBI in his previous 22 games.

"This is one of those no-brainers," Leyland said of sitting Cabrera. "He plays every day. He gives you everything he's got, every single day, and sometimes you forget. He's so big and strong, you say, 'Well, he doesn't [need a day off]. But he's 0-for-12 against Billingsley, so it's a common-sense one."

Brennan Boesch did not play last night and is batting .408 with six home runs and 13 RBI in the past 17 games.

Leyland hopes starting pitcher Max Scherzer can become the majors' first 10- game winner tonight without the big bat in the lineup. Coincidentally, Phillies ace Roy Halladay (9-3) can do the same thing tonight in St. Louis and his game starts about two hours before Scherzer takes the mound for his 16th start of the season.

Scherzer, one of nine hurlers with nine wins, has won three straight starts and the Tigers are unbeaten in his last four trips to the mound. He lasted 5 2/3 innings in Thursday's 6-2 win over Cleveland, allowing two runs and four hits to improve to 9-2 and lower his ERA to 4.32. The righty is 4-1 in six road assignments and will face LA for the seventh time in his career. In six games (4 starts) in this matchup, Scherzer is 1-2 to go along with a 3.14 ERA.

Los Angeles won two of three meetings with Detroit a year ago at Comerica Park, but the Tigers have won five of the last nine games in this series.