(SportsNetwork.com) - Clayton Kershaw hasn't won in almost a month and is still searching for his 100th regular season victory.
Kershaw gets the call for the Los Angeles Dodgers Friday in the continuation of a four-game series versus the Colorado Rockies at Chavez Ravine.
The three-time NL Cy Young Award winner is 1-2 with a 4.26 earned run average through seven starts and the Dodgers are 3-4 when Kershaw takes the mound. His last win came on April 17 against Colorado and the left-hander faced the Rockies again on Sunday at Coors Field, charged with five runs in a season-low 5 2/3 innings of a 9-5 win for the no-decision.
Kershaw, the reigning NL MVP, has dominated the Rockies in his career as evidenced by a 14-5 record and a 3.26 ERA in 28 starts.
Los Angeles hopes Kershaw can stop a two-game slide and dropped a 5-4 decision in Thursday's series opener. Colorado halted its lengthy 11-game losing streak by scoring three runs in the top of the ninth inning on Carlos Gonzalez's home run off of Dodgers reliever Yimi Garcia.
"I was watching Garcia coming out of the 'pen, and he was throwing a lot of fastballs," Gonzalez said. "I was waiting to see a good fastball. It finally showed on a 2-1 count and I was able to take advantage and hit the ball over the fence."
The Dodgers are awaiting the return of closer Kenley Jansen and manager Don Mattingly hopes he can bolster a slipping bullpen. Jansen has been bothered by a foot injury and could be activated off the disabled list Friday or sometime this weekend.
"Two days in a row we had a lead we don't protect," Mattingly said. "I can't say I'm excited, but I'm glad he's healthy and coming back. It seems the timing is right to have that guy back. He's one of the top closers in the game."
Brett Anderson started for the Dodgers and lasted 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs and five hits with eight strikeouts and one walk. LA's offense was highlighted by Adrian Gonzalez, who finished 2-for-3 with two RBI and a run scored. Yasmani Grandal went 2-for-4 with an RBI for Los Angeles, which had won five straight and 10 of 12 before this current skid.
The Dodgers are still a dominant 15-4 at home and lead the NL West by four games ahead of the San Diego Padres. They have won 10 straight series at home.
Colorado won for the first time since April 27 at Arizona last night thanks to Gonzalez's big blast. Wilin Rosario also homered and finished with two RBI, while Rafael Betancourt got the win with a scoreless eighth inning. John Axford then nailed down his fourth save in the ninth.
Chas Bettis started for the Rockies and was touched for four runs and seven hits in five innings. He walked four and struck out three batters for Colorado, which halted a seven-game slide on the road.
Eddie Butler will toe the rubber for the Rockies Friday and is 2-3 with a 3.73 earned run average in six starts. Butler has dropped two straight and three of four starts, including a 2-1 decision against the Dodgers last Friday.
Butler was solid through 5 1/3 innings and allowed both runs. He struck out three and issued four walks. Butler, a right-hander, is 0-3 with a 6.64 ERA in four career starts against the Dodgers and 1-2 in four road outings (3.15 ERA).
The Dodgers are 5-1 against the Rockies this season and had won eight straight and 16 of the last 19 meetings between the NL West foes.
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