It's another doozie of a pitching matchup July 8 when Jacob Misiorowski faces Clayton Kershaw

For the second home start in a row, Brewers rookie right-hander Jacob Misiorowski will square off with one of the biggest names in baseball when the Brewers meet the Dodgers at 6:40 p.m. CT on July 8.

Last time at American Family Field, it was a meeting with Pittsburgh phenom Paul Skenes, a clash in which Misiorowski held the Pirates without a run in five innings, and the Brewers prevailed, 4-2. This time, it's a meeting with Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw, who just surpassed 3,000 career strikeouts and remains one of the most recognizable pitchers in the game at age 37.

Here's what to know about the meeting.

How has Clayton Kershaw fared this year?

Kershaw has only made nine starts but has posted good numbers, with a 3.43 ERA in 44⅔ innings, including 32 strikeouts and 14 walks. He's allowed six homers and a WHIP of 1.254. He was just named to his 11th all-star team as a "legend pick" for the National League, an honor bestowed upon him by the MLB commissioner's office.

Kershaw didn't start his season until May after needing surgeries to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee and a ruptured plantar plate in his left big toe.

How did Clayton Kershaw fare last year?

At age 36, last year was the first time Kershaw really struggled, but it was also a tiny sample of seven games, with a 4.50 ERA over 30 innings. He started the year sidelined after shoulder surgery following the 2023 postseason, activated July 25. Then came the injury to his toe at the end of August, and he was out for the year and the postseason, meaning he did not pitch in the Dodgers' run to the 2024 World Series championship.

Clayton Kershaw just reached a career milestone, striking out a former Brewers player for his 3,000th strikeout

Kershaw is one start removed from his July 2 outing against the Chicago White Sox, a 5-4 win in which the left-hander recorded his 3,000th career strikeout (coming against ex-Brewers player Vinny Capra, no less).

Overall, Kershaw allowed four runs on nine hits in six innings with three strikeouts. He became the fourth lefty to accomplish the 3,000-strikeout feat, joining Steve Carlton, Randy Johnson and former Brewers star CC Sabathia. It made him the 20th pitcher overall and first since Max Scherzer reached the threshold in 2021.

The outing marked the first time Kershaw had thrown 100 pitches in a start this season. The 100 he threw were the most in an outing since June 20, 2023, when he threw 103.

How has Jacob Misiorowski fared this year?

Misiorowski had as good a start to his career as you could hope for, setting the modern mark for most hitless innings to begin a career with 11. After the outing against Skenes, Misiorowski had three starts to his name, three victories and only three hits allowed.

But then came his last start, when Misiorowski couldn't escape the fourth, allowed a grand slam and follow-up homer and took the loss in a 7-3 setback against the Mets. Misiorowski struggled to maintain his triple-digit velocity, leading to a cascade of issues that included three walks and five hits in 3⅔ innings.

Pitching for Class AAA Nashville, Misiorowski also had a rough start May 31 at Indianapolis, also allowing five runs in just two innings, with six walks and two strikeouts. In his next start, he allowed two hits over five innings in a win over Gwinnett (with seven strikeouts), then followed that with his three amazing big-league starts.

How do the Brewers usually fare against the Dodgers?

Milwaukee went 3-4 against the eventual World Series champion Dodgers last year and has not won the season series against the Dodgers since going 5-1 in 2014. Los Angeles has a 37-24 record against the Brewers in the regular seasons since (not counting Milwaukee's win July 7), as well as a 6-3 record in the playoffs (with the Dodgers eliminating the Brewers from the 2018 and 2020 postseasons).

How close are the Brewers to catching the Dodgers for the best record in the National League?

Milwaukee had a 51-40 record entering the July 8 clash between Kershaw and Misiorowski, which ranked 4½ games behind the Dodgers for the best record in the National League (56-36). The Cubs (54-36) are just a game behind Los Angeles and 3½ ahead of Milwaukee in the Central.

The Brewers headed into the game second in the wild-card standings, one game behind the Mets and 1½ ahead of San Francisco for second. The Brewers sat 2½ ahead of San Diego, the first team on the outside looking in to the playoff chase.

Where can you watch the Misiorowski/Kershaw matchup July 8?

The game will be broadcast on FanDuel Sports Network in Wisconsin and also air on TBS, with typical Brewers announcer Brian Anderson on the call for the national broadcast (streaming on TBS and Max apps, as well).

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Big pitching matchup on tap with Clayton Kershaw vs Jacob Misiorowski