Already in line to start his third career All-Star Game and first since 2012 Nate Solder Color Rush Jersey , Matt Kemp is keeping up a torrid pace.

Kemp tied a career high with five hits, Joc Pederson and Max Muncy hit back-to-back homers to highlight a six-run fourth inning, and the Los Angeles Dodgers routed the Pittsburgh Pirates 17-1 on Monday night in the series opener.

Kemp hit a three-run homer in the sixth and drove in four runs for the second straight game. He came up a triple shy of hitting for the cycle.

He’s notched eight straight hits since Sunday against Colorado; the franchise record is 10.

”It’s been pretty good,” Kemp said. ”As a team, we did a pretty good job.”

Fans chanted ”MVP! MVP!” as Kemp crossed the plate after his 15th homer of the season. The veteran slugger is the second-leading vote getter among National League outfielders for the July 17 All-Star Game. Kemp also scored four runs.

”It was a clinic tonight, and everyone sort of fed off what he was doing at the plate,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said.

Cody Bellinger homered in the third, leaving the Dodgers with 116 homers this season after they slugged a major league-leading and franchise-record 55 in June. They already have five long balls two days into July.

The Dodgers recorded season highs in hits (21) and runs. They batted around in the fourth, fifth and sixth innings, tacking on three runs in the fifth and four more in the sixth for a 17-1 lead.

”You never like when these games happen, but they seem to find a way to happen every now and then,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.

Alex Wood (5-5) allowed one run and six hits in six innings. The left-hander struck out three and didn’t walk anyone in recording a win for his fourth straight start. The Dodgers’ defense backed him with double plays in the first and sixth.

Wood was sitting for long stretches while the Dodgers batted around, although he also was busy with four at-bats, getting a hit.

Caleb Ferguson pitched three innings to earn his first major league save on his 22nd birthday.

”A 16-run save,” joked Wood.

Ferguson said, ”I didn’t realize it until after the game. It’s awesome, especially on my birthday.”

Yasiel Puig had three hits and drove in four runs in the Dodgers’ second straight win.

The Pirates stumbled from the start.

In the first inning alone, David Freese dropped a throw at first base, starter Nick Kingham balked a runner to third and catcher Elias Diaz missed the target on a throw to the mound for an error by Kingham that allowed Bellinger to score the Dodgers’ second run of the inning.

”It just missed my glove and bounced away,” Kingham said. ”No one else was expecting it but the runner on third saw it and he went home.”

Pittsburgh’s third error – by center fielder Austin Meadows – led to the Dodgers scoring their 10th run in the fourth.

The Pirates’ lone run came on Diaz’s homer in the second.

Kingham (3-3) gave up seven runs – five earned – and eight hits in three-plus innings, the rookie’s shortest outing of the season. The right-hander struck out two and walked three making a spot start in place of Chad Kuhl, who is on the disabled list with a forearm strain.

The Dodgers were no kinder to reliever Tanner Anderson, who got tagged for six runs – five earned – and eight hits in two innings of his major league debut.

”First pitch, I was really nervous,” the 2015 Harvard graduate said.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: INF-OF Sean Rodriguez (right quad strain) began a rehab assignment at Triple-A Indianapolis. … LHP Enny Romero (left shoulder impingement) was reinstated from the DL and designated for assignment.

Dodgers: RHP Walker Buehler will pitch at Class A-Rancho Cucamonga on Tuesday. If it goes well Youth Mikko Koivu Jersey , he will toss a bullpen session on Friday. … LHP Tony Cingrani (left shoulder inflammation) will have a rehab assignment before he returns.

PUIG’S DEFENSE

With a 17-1 lead, Puig wasn’t loafing on defense. Jordy Mercer lined a double into the right-field corner in the seventh and Corey Dickerson took off from second while Puig chased the ball into the corner. If Dickerson was thinking about trying to score, Puig wouldn’t have it. The Cuban threw a flat-footed strike from foul territory that held up Dickerson.

WORST LOSS

It was the Pirates’ worst loss since falling 20-0 to the Brewers on April 22, 2010, at home. The Bucs allowed season highs in runs and hits, while the Dodgers’ four homers tied a season high.

UP NEXT

Pirates RHP Ivan Nova (4-5, 4.02 ERA) starts on Tuesday. He is 1-0 with a 2.31 ERA in two career starts against the Dodgers. LHP Clayton Kershaw (1-4, 2.84) makes his third start for Los Angeles since coming off the DL. He is 2-3 with a 3.18 ERA in 11 career starts against the Pirates, with 69 strikeouts and 12 walks while holding their batters to a .221 average.

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Cleveland has no quarterback competition. The Browns have made it clear that the starting job is Tyrod Taylor’s, but that hasn’t quieted the buzz around Baker Mayfield, who had a dazzling preseason debut last week.

The No. 1 overall pick will follow Taylor on Friday night and play up to two quarters against Buffalo in his first game action in front of Cleveland fans hoping he can lead them to a brighter future — just not yet.

Browns coach Hue Jackson is adamant about Mayfield learning behind Taylor and said the Heisman Trophy winner is going along with the plan.

“Baker wants to play — we all know that — but I think Baker also understands that when his time comes, the organization and myself will make the best decision when that is, and he gets that,” Jackson said. “Right now, Tyrod is our starting quarterback.”

Taylor, who went 5 for 5 in two series in last week’s win over the Giants, will get a chance to play against his former team. He said part of his drive this season comes from the Bills trading him in March despite him helping end their 17-year playoff drought last year.

“Definitely, how I think it ended there, it’s motivation for this year,” Taylor said. “Not necessarily for this game, but this year.”

Meanwhile, Bills coach Sean McDermott won’t say who’s starting for his team, but the expectation is AJ McCarron will get his turn after Nathan Peterman started in the preseason opener against Carolina last week. What’s intriguing is when Josh Allen, the No. 7 overall pick, will enter the game.

McDermott has insisted that he’s being very cautious in not wanting to rush Allen’s development. Allen went 9 of 19 for 116 yards and a touchdown in playing the entire second half against Carolina.

For Bills receiver Corey Coleman Youth Chad Thomas Jersey , Friday’s game will be a quick return to a place he couldn’t wait to leave. The 2016 first-round pick had two disappointing seasons with the Browns and asked to be traded when he was dropped to second-string. Browns general manager John Dorsey dealt Coleman to the Bills two weeks ago for a seventh-round pick in 2020.

Speaking of receivers, could the Browns have a new one on their roster by kickoff?

Dez Bryant was visiting the team’s headquarters in Berea, Ohio, on Thursday and there was a chance the meeting could lead to the three-time Pro Bowl selection signing with Cleveland. The 29-year-old receiver was released by the Dallas Cowboys after eight seasons in April and has been waiting to latch on with another team. He turned down a three-year contract offer from Baltimore, which may still have interest in him.

Elsewhere on Friday night, the Giants are at Detroit, Kansas City is at Atlanta, Miami is at Carolina and Arizona is at New Orleans.

What to look for around the league:

HEY, WE KNOW YOU

At Ford Field, both first-year coaches could have been leading the other team.

Pat Shurmur interviewed with his hometown Lions before New York hired him, and Matt Patricia was in talks with the Giants and ended up in Detroit.

“I felt like if it had worked out here, I would have been excited about the opportunity,” said Shurmur, who went to high school near the Lions’ training facility and was a Michigan State standout. “I certainly feel great about where I’m at. I couldn’t be in a better place. I pinch myself every day being the head coach of the Giants.”

Both coaches have another thing in common: refusing to provide any hints about their plans Friday night.

Shurmur wouldn’t say if rookie running back Saquon Barkley or star receiver Odell Beckham Jr. will play. Barkley missed three straight practices against the Lions because of a strained left hamstring. Beckham looked healthy, but he has not played since breaking his left ankle 10 months ago and having surgery.

Patricia, meanwhile, wouldn’t say if quarterback Matthew Stafford or defensive end Ezekiel Ansah would play in their first preseason game.

LOOKING TO FLY

After being held to one first down and 34 total yards in the first half of last week’s 17-0 loss at the Jets in their preseason opener, Atlanta will try again to get its offense moving against Kansas City.

Coach Dan Quinn held out running backs Devonta Freeman and Tevin Coleman and wide receiver Julio Jones and limited quarterback Matt Ryan to one series against the Jets.

Starters likely will see limited action again against the Chiefs. Quinn is looking to make decisions on young players before roster cuts later in the preseason.

FOR STARTERS

Dolphins 35-year-old running back Frank Gore is expected to see his first action of the preseason as he competes for a starting spot with Kenyan Drake.

Miami will be without wide receiver DeVante Parker, who broke a finger earlier this week. Coach Adam Gase said all four quarterbacks would play, including Brock Osweiler and David Fales, who are competing for the No. 2 spot behind starter Ryan Tannehill.

Cam Newton will play into the second quarter for Carolina and coach Ron Rivera said he’d like the first-team offense to run the two-minute drill if the opportunity presents itself.

GETTING AN EDGE

The Saints are trying to see which edge pass rusher can best take pressure off 2017 All-Pro end Cameron Jordan.

Alex Okafor, who started much of last season until tearing his Achilles, had another leg injury at practice this week and it’s unclear how long he’ll be out. That raises urgency to try to get first-round draft choice Marcus Davenport ready. Davenport has missed about two weeks of practices and the preseason opener with an undisclosed ailment.

Meanwhile, the Cardinals‘ first unit will play more this week after just one serie