After recently indicating a decision was down to three candidates, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts named Clayton Kershaw the 2021 Opening Day starter. It’s a franchise-record ninth time in Kershaw’s career he’s going to take the mound for a season opener.
Of course, the club named Kershaw their Opening Day starter in each of the past two years as well, but injuries prevented him from seeing those through. The Dodgers are 7-1 in Kershaw’s Opening Day starts, with their lone loss coming to the San Francisco Giants in 2018.
Kershaw personally is 5-1 with a 1.05 ERA and 59 strikeouts across 51.2 innings pitched in those games.
That he would start against the Colorado Rockies on April 1 was considered by many a foregone conclusion. “I think we all talked collectively, and there’s really no wrong decision. I just feel that he’s earned it, he’s the right guy for the spot for 2021,” Roberts explained.
“For every reason I think it just makes the most sense.”
With Kershaw starting Opening Day, it effectively rules him out from also taking the ball April 9 for the home opener at Dodger Stadium. The Dodgers are expected to celebrate their World Series championship with a ring ceremony prior to first pitch.
“I think we all talked and just feel good that (Opening Day) was the right thing. We talked about the home opener, but ultimately the decision was he was going to start Opening Day,” Roberts added.
He acknowledged the Dodgers took into consideration allowing Kershaw to enjoy being part of the ring ceremony rather than having to prepare for a start against the Washington Nationals.
Roberts declined to reveal the rest of the starting rotation, which is unsettled behind Kershaw and some order of Trevor Bauer and Walker Buehler. David Price could shift to the bullpen, and the team has not publicly committed to Urias being in the rotation despite that being the assumption.
Kershaw’s career Opening Day starts
Clayton Kershaw Opening Day starts
| Season | Opponent | Result | Innings Pitched | Hits | Earned Runs | Strikeouts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | vs. Giants | Win | 7.0 | 4 | 0 | 9 |
| 2012 | @ Padres | No Decision | 3.0 | 2 | 0 | 3 |
| 2013 | vs. Giants | Win | 9.0 | 4 | 0 | 7 |
| 2014 | vs. Diamondbacks (Australia) | Win | 6.2 | 5 | 1 | 7 |
| 2015 | vs. Padres | No Decision | 6.0 | 6 | 3 | 9 |
| 2016 | @ Padres | Win | 7.0 | 1 | 0 | 9 |
| 2017 | vs. Padres | Win | 7.0 | 2 | 1 | 8 |
| 2018 | vs. Giants | Loss | 6.0 | 8 | 1 | 7 |
| 2021 | @ Rockies | Loss | 5.2 | 10 | 5 | 2 |
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