Today's Best Mound Matchup
Hiroki Kuroda (Los Angeles Dodgers) vs. Cliff Lee (Philadelphia Phillies)
Hiroki Kuroda (8-7, 3.76 ERA)
Hiroki Kuroda missed the NLDS nursing a neck strain and kept himself sharp with a simulated game in Arizona earlier this week. But it doesn’t take much to warm up the 34-year-old. He's used to a light workload and has lasted past six innings only twice in 20 starts. That’s a big reason the team was just 12-8 in his starts this season, forcing the bullpen to close out nearly all of his games.
And Kuroda usually gets pulled for getting himself into trouble – he’s topped the 100-pitch mark only twice this year.
This will be Kuroda’s first real start since Sept. 28, when he was pounded for seven runs – three earned –- on eight hits, including two home runs, over just four innings. In his past five starts overall, he is 3-2 with a 2.79 ERA and allowed just nine earned runs over 29 innings.
The right-hander is allowing left-handers to hit just .233 against him this season, but righties are swatting a respectable .253. Opponents are also hitting .257 against him at Chavez Ravine, 25 points higher than on the road.
In his only start against Philly this season, he gave up only two hits over six shutout innings of a 3-2 win in June. Last October, he beat the Phillies in the NLDS, 7-2, allowing just two earned runs on five hits over six innings.
Cliff Lee (14-13, 3.22 ERA)
Cliff Lee has been the catalyst of the Phillies pitching staff since being acquired from the Indians on July 29, pitching three complete games and dominating the National League.
Lee has 181 strikeouts against only 43 walks over a staggering 231 2-3 innings this season. When opponents put the ball in play, however, it usually drops. He has given up 245 hits, including 17 home runs.
The left-hander has been at his best this postseason, giving up just two earned runs on 11 hits over 16 1-3 innings while striking out 10 against three walks. With the recent woes of the team’s bullpen, he will look to finish with his eighth complete overall this season.
Lee has been incredibly consistent this season. Opponents are hitting .272 against him both at home and on the road this year. Left-handers are hitting just .241 against him while right-handers are smacking his pitches at a .283 clip.
The 2008 AL Cy Young winner has never faced the Dodgers, but has struggled against Manny Ramirez. The former Red Sox slugger is 6-for-14 in his career against Lee with two home runs and six walks.