LOS ANGELES — Cody Bellinger is a legitimate NL MVP candidate with 42 homers, 100 RBIs and a .312 batting average. But if the Yankees and Dodgers meet in the World Series, the left-handed hitting slugger could be faced with a bit of doubt after going 1-for-10 with a single and no RBIs in three weekend games at Dodger Stadium.

“I really thought we pitched him tough. He’s obviously one of the best players in the league having an MVP season. You get a little nervous every time he steps up there in a situation with runners on,’’ Boone said after Sunday’s 5-1 win. “I just thought from the game-plan standpoint and the execution of that, I thought our guys really pitched him well.’’

The Yankees needed three pitches Sunday to set the major league record for home runs in a calendar month.

DJ LeMahieu hit Clayton Kershaw’s third pitch of the game deep into the left-field seats. It was LeMahieu’s 22nd homer of the season and the Yankees’ 59th in August. The homer broke a tie with the Orioles (May 1987) and Mariners (May 1999). Homers later in the game by Aaron Judge and Ford raised the August total to 61, and the Yankees still have three games remaining this month.

Jordan Montgomery began a minor league rehab assignment Sunday with Single-A Tampa. Montgomery underwent Tommy John surgery on June 7 of last year. The lefty pitched two scoreless and hitless innings in which he struck out two.

Boone started the left-handed hitting Mike Tauchman against the lefty Kershaw on Sunday instead of Cameron Maybin because Kershaw is equally effective against right-handed and left-handed hitters. Tauchman went 1-for-4.

“Clayton is a straight split guy,’’ Boone said. “He is not any tougher on lefties than he is righties. I am confident in both guys.’’

Yankees hitters started Sunday’s action batting .331 with 35 against lefties since July 31 after hitting .236 from March to June.