Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced this week that Clayton Kershaw will make a franchise-record ninth start on Opening Day. It will be Kershaw’s first since 2018, as he was unable to do so last season due to a shoulder injury that landed him on the 10-day injured list.
Roberts additionally revealed that Walker Buehler and David Price will follow Kershaw in the opening three-game series against the San Francisco Giants. Alex Wood will also be slotted into the fifth spot while Julio Urias is expected to occupy the other vacancy.
Some believed that Buehler was deserving of taking the mound on Opening Day this season after putting together a stellar 2019 campaign. He went 14-4 with a 3.26 ERA, 3.01 FIP and 1.04 WHIP in 30 starts en route to his first career All-Star selection.
While Roberts strategically based his decision on early off days in the schedule, he admitted that it was still a difficult choice to make, via Jesse Borek of MLB.com:
“It was [a difficult decision], and I think that’s a good thing,” Roberts said. “I think it was a difficult decision in the sense that [of] what Walker has done and what we expect him to do this year, so I think that’s a compliment to both players. I think, ultimately, having Clayton start Opening Day made the most sense for us that day and also going forward.
Prior to Roberts making his decision, Kershaw sought clarity to ensure his 2020 Opening Day start wasn’t legacy-driven.
The left-hander is coming off a solid 2019 season in which he went 16-5 with a 3.03 ERA, 3.86 FIP and 1.04 WHIP over 178.1 innings pitched (29 games, 28 starts).
He accepted the blame for the Dodgers’ National League Division Series Game 5 loss to the Washington Nationals after allowing back-to-back, game-tying home runs.
The Dodgers are 7-1 in Kershaw’s Opening Day starts, with their lone loss coming to the Giants in 2018. Kershaw personally is 5-1 with a 1.05 ERA and 59 strikeouts across 51.2 innings pitched in those games.
He’s logged at least six innings in seven of eight season openers. The only exception was when Kershaw pitched just three innings in 2012 because of illness.
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