With the Los Angeles Dodgers coming off a long road trip and staring down a day-night doubleheader on Tuesday, Clayton Kershaw helped them begin their homestand on a positive note against Arizona Diamondbacks.
He retired the side in order in the first inning on just 11 pitches and went on to allow just one run while finishing with 10 strikeouts. Kershaw struck out the side in the third inning and got the first two batters in the fourth swinging as well.
“I thought that first inning set the tone for tonight,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said after the 5-2 win. “Just the way he attacked, I know he always does that, but that first inning was different. I thought just overall, how he managed the strike zone, really methodical.
“Just really fun to watch. A really great outing.”
The start was Kershaw’s second in a row against the Diamondbacks, which effectively mirrored a postseason schedule. “Just the point of familiarity, where you have a lot of different weapons and ways to attack hitters, I think for me, how we exploited some weaknesses and used his entire arsenal, allows for unpredictably,” Roberts added.
“When you’re talking about the postseason, people kind of rely on predictability with game planning. Clayton, who has got four pitches, and to use different quadrants and lanes, it kind of keeps guys on their toes.”
Kershaw improved to 9-3 this season and lowered his ERA to 2.39. He’s pitched to a 1.50 ERA and collected 29 strikeouts over four starts since returning from another stint on the 15-day injured list because of lower back pain.
Furthermore, it was the 27th start of his career with at least 10 strikeouts against zero walks.
Kershaw navigated adjustments with usual approach
Facing the same opponent in consecutive starts adds a wrinkle, but it was one that Kershaw didn’t become too consumed with when evaluating what changes were needed from the previous matchup.
“It’s a fine line, right? You don’t want to overthink too much,” he said. “I mean, there’s only so many things I can do, right? I don’t have too many tricks up my sleeve.”
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