When Los Angeles Dodgers manager Dave Roberts announced the two possible dates Clayton Kershaw would make his 2019 debut, both brought about intrigue.
Either the three-time Cy Young Award winner would be activated off the 10-day injured list to face the Milwaukee Brewers in a 2018 National League Championship Series rematch, or Kershaw would start on Jackie Robinson Day against former teammates on the Cincinnati Reds roster.
The Dodgers ultimately opted for the latter, though as a means of providing Kershaw with an extra day of rest after his rehab start rather than for the storyline of pitching against Matt Kemp and Yasiel Puig.
Kershaw and Puig locked horns in the first inning, with the battle going in favor of the polarizing outfielder as he drove a two-run home run to straightaway center field.
Although Kershaw was pleased with his first start of the season, allowing the home run to Puig stung him a bit, via SportsNet LA:
“It was definitely a good first outing back. Efficient, getting through seven (innings), probably on somewhat of a limited pitch count. We didn’t really talk about it, because I don’t really like to know when games matter, what the pitch count is. Yeah, it was great.
“Not awkward (facing former teammates). Unfortunately, you have to do that some. I awlays feel like that favors the hitter, when they know you, so I don’t really love it. I wish I could’ve done anything other than give up a homer to Puig in the first at-bat. He put a great swing on the ball. Unfortunately, I’ve seen him do that for a while here. Thankful that it didn’t beat us.”
Kershaw got the better of Puig in their second matchup by striking him out. That marked a ninth consecutive batter retired, though the string was snapped immediately after as Kemp snuck a base hit under Kiké Hernandez’s glove. Puig singled against Kershaw to lead off the seventh inning.
It was one of five hits Kershaw scattered as he struck out six and held the Reds to just the two runs that came on Puig’s homer. Half of Kershaw’s strikeouts came in the sixth inning when he fanned Michael Lorenzen, Curt Casali and Eugenio Suarez.
His fastball velocity still lacked some bit, but Kershaw’s curveball had its signature bend.
